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By Ska and Shork Skriks 


ANGEL HILDA 


TRANSLATED AND ADAPTED FROM THE GERMAN 

OF 

WILHELM HERCHENBACH 


BY 

AGNES SADLIER 



NEW YORK 


D. & J. SADLIER & 
31 & 33 BARCLAY STREET 
1886 


CO. 



Copyright, 1886. 

Agnes Sadlier. 

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ANGEL HILDA 




Q)o noble deeds ; not dream them all day lon^P 


^^find blessed is he who can divine 
Where real ri^ht doth lie^ 
find dares to tahe the side that seems 
Wrong" to man’s blindfold eye.” 


X 

iV’i 



ANGEL HILDA. 


• c>030o 

CHAPTER I. 

THE GRAVE-DIGGER. 

B althasar kraft, the grave-digger of 
Breslau, was seated in his house, in a small 
room through whose window he had a perfect 
view of the great iron-barred door of St. Christo- 
pher’s Church. It was in the year 1630, and Bal- 
thasar had just returned to his home, after perform- 
ing his melancholy office in behalf of an old and 
respected inhabitant of Breslau. After spending 
a short time in meditation, perhaps on the uncer- 
tainty of life, he arose and tool^ down from the 
high chimney-piece, of which it formed the prin- 
cipal ornament, a ponderous volume, bound in 
pig-skin, laid it on the window-seat, and as he 


6 


Angel Hilda. 


undid its heavy iron clasps, murmured to himself, 
“ My great-grandfather, my grandfather, and my 
father have held my office before me, and if the 
magistrate and the trustees of the church know 
how to value my services, my son Caspar will hold 
it after me.” Then he seated himself in his arm- 
chair, placed his spectacles on his nose, and plung- 
ing the pen into the ink, wrote in large black 
letters, whose lines were almost as thick as his 
fore-finger, the following: “To-day I have buried 
the esteemed Thomas Breilkopp. Besides the 
fee usual upon such an occasion, his relatives have 
bestowed upon me three cumocks of grain.” 

Such entries as this were so common in the 
huge volume, that if Kraft had but placed all the 
grain and wheat which had been bestowed upon 
him in a heap, it would have risen to a height that 
would have dwarfed the steeple of the Church of 
St. Christopher. As for sausages, he could have 
encircled the good city of Breslau with a three- 
fold cable of them, so generous had been the 
offerings in that line. 


The Grave-Digger. 


7 


To write, and above all to write in a manner 
befitting the dignity of a record intended for 
posterity, was no easy work for the grave-digger, 
and quite a space of time went by before it was 
completed to his satisfaction. He was so deeply 
absorbed in it that he failed to hear the voices of 
a large and increasing crowd in the street, just 
before his door. Finally, just as he was rising 
from a last look, and was about to close the 
volume, the door opened, a young girl appeared 
on the threshold. She was a lovely vision, in the 
low dark room ; her face, whose chief beauty lay 
in its pure, calm expression, was without the faint- 
est tinge of color, and her fair hair, too pale to be 
called golden, and too deep to be termed flaxen, 
fell from beneath her cap in two thick braids far 
below her waist. Her blue eyes matched the sky 
in color, and they often had an appearance of be- 
holding some distant glorious thing, whose beauty 
they reflected. It was for this reason, as well 
as for the stainless purity and self-sacrificing 
spirit of her life, that the name of “ angel ” had 


8 Angel Hilda. 

been bestowed upon her by the people of Bres- 
lau. 

Wherever she went she aroused gentle, kindly 
feelings, and wrung smiles from lips that naught 
else on earth could have caused to part for that 
purpose. So now, when she opened the door of 
her father’s room and smiled at him, he beamed 
upon her with a smile that caused his great round 
face to become a mass of wrinkles, and said, 
“ Well, Hilda.?” 

“There is a noise in the street just without our 
door, father, and I think it would be well for you 
to go out and see what is the cause of it.” 

True enough, now that the grave-digger’s atten- 
tion was no longer absorbed in his difficult task, 
he heard the voices of a great number, who 
seemed to be disputing. He rose and was about 
to open the door, when a loud knocking sounded 
upon it, and several voices cried, “ Come forth, 
Balthasar Kraft, and read the notice which has 
been posted up before the church. Anthony Dorn, 
the grocer, has been striving to do so for the last 


The Grave-Digger. 


9 


half hour by the clock of St. Christopher’s, and 
has not been able to make it out yet.” 

Balthasar, thus adjured, opened the heavy house 
door and stepped into the midst of an excited 
group of his fellow-townsmen, who eagerly made 
a passage for him to the church, before which 
hung the notice which was to them as the mys- 
terious handwriting upon the wall which terrified 
the Assyrian king, and for which, like him, they 
eagerly sought an interpreter. When he reached 
it, he found the worthy grocer still staring at it 
through his spectacles, while great drops, the 
result of effort and mortification combined, stood 
upon his brow. 

“ Stand aside, Anthony,” cried a number of 
voices, “ and let Balthasar read it to us.” 

And Anthony, whose pangs amounted to per- 
fect agony when he saw himself obliged to yield 
his place to his next-door neighbor, did as he was 
bidden, and the grave-digger, having leisurely 
drawn his spectacles from their case and adjusted 
them, proceeded to solve the problem. 


IO 


Angel Hilda. 


But he had no sooner fixed his eyes upon the 
paper than he was seen to turn quite pale. In- 
stantly the interest mounted to frenzy ; the crowd 
piessed around Balthasar, until he was almost too 
close to the notice to be able to read it. “ Good 
friends,” he cried, raising his arms to try and push 
them away, “stand back! It is very important 
that you should hear the whole of the notice, for 
it tells that the plague is on its way to Breslau.” 

A ghastly silence fell on the stricken throng at 
these terrible words. Taking advantage of this, 
the grave-digger proceeded to read aloud that the 
plague, which the people all knew was raging in 
Russia and Poland, was now to be dreaded in 
Breslau, and that to render its visitation as light 
as possible, the people were ordered to obey im- 
plicitly the orders of the learned physicians. Dr. 
David Evertz and Dr. George Runtz, to whom 
had been assigned the duty of preparing Breslau 
to meet the plague, and saving its inhabitants. 
The notice concluded with a warning that any 
one who failed to comply with the orders of these 


The Grave-Digger. 


II 


two learned men, would be punished severely by 
the magistrates of the city. 

When Balthasar had finished, a perfect Babel 
ensued. Everybody told what he thought of the 
plague, of the physicians, and of the notice, and no 
one listened, and indeed could not have heard, even 
though he had. Balthasar alone remained silent, 
and took his spectacles from his nose and placed 
them in their case with the same slowness and 
gravity with which he had drawn them forth. At 
length, when every one had become exhausted by 
his efforts to make himself heard, and ceased, Bal- 
thasar spoke. “I am quite sure,” he said, “that 
these two worthy men will do their best to save 
our city ; but what can they do, my friends ? I 
remember reading in the great book in which 
my great-grandfather, my grandfather, and my 
father wrote down all the things that had any 
bearing on their office, that Dr. Mathias Austus, 
in the year 1542, declared he had discovered a sure 
means to save those that were sick of the plague 
and keep those who were well from getting it. 


12 


Angel Hilda. 


But after six thousand burghers of Breslau had 
died, he himself perished of the plague. My 
grandfather wrote that with his own hand, and it 
is true. Again, in the year 1552, the learned and 
celebrated John Erata, of Kraftheim, the king’s 
own physician, says that if the people will only 
follow his directions, he will cure them. They 
do so, and what happens.? The learned doctor 
dies himself of the plague, along with twenty 
thousand of the towns-people. Whether these 
doctors, that the magistrates have now chosen, 
will do any better I don’t pretend to judge; but I 
have not much hope. I don’t see how any one 
can fight death.” 

“Very true, my good friend,” called out a 
mocking voice, at the close of the grave-digger’s 
somewhat labored speech; “you have spoken 
words of wisdom, and it were well that all should 
take heed of them.” 

The people had all turned at this sound, 
and now shrank back and left the space clear 
around the speaker. He was a man who, when 


The Grave-Digger. 


13 


looked at from behind, seemed young ; his figure 
being both slight and supple. But his face, with 
its keen, bright eyes, was deeply lined ; and his 
beard, which was cut short, and worn pointed, was 
silver-gray, and formed a startling contrast to his 
black wig. This strange personage had quietly 
taken up his abode in Breslau some time before, 
but who he was, or whence he came, were facts 
still unknown to the worthy burghers and their 
families. He dwelt in a gloomy house in a re- 
tired part of the town, and any provisions that 
he required, were purchased by himself or his 
servant, and carried home, so that no one ever 
penetrated into the house ; and, in fact, no one 
was anxious to do so, as he was soon accused of 
being learned in the black art. 

In those days, a belief in astrology existed 
among all classes, high and low. Anne of Aus- 
tria, the mother of Louis the Fourteenth, sent 
back from some distance beyond Paris, to know 
what the fact of one of the mules by which her 
litter was borne, having fallen, betokened. A 


14 


Angel Hilda. 


faith in sorcery, magic, and witchcraft existed 
even among those whose station should have 
elevated them above such nonsensical belief; in 
fact, it was only the truly pious and enlightened 
among the clergy, who really did not put faith in 
them. 

Many of the people of Breslau, who knew some- 
thing of the great world beyond the gates of their 
city, thought the man was an Italian astrologer, 
who had been driven from the French Court be- 
cause some of his predictions had proved false. 

Alchemy, the ancient science which professed 
to transmute metals into gold, and which led the 
way to the great modern science of chemistry, had 
also many believers, among them the great Rich- 
elieu, who threw a poor wretch into the Bastile for 
deceiving him in regard to his powers as an alche- 
mist. Some in Breslau believed this man to be 
that unhappy alehemist, escaped from the great 
French minister’s clutches, and hiding himself in 
this distant city. 

The result of these conflicting opinions was to 


The Grave-Digger. 


15 


deepen the cloud of mystery which already hung 
over the stranger ; and when he appeared in the 
streets, which was not often, he was pretty sure to 
have no one dispute the passage with him ; and 
silence fell on any merry group when the shadow 
of his presence fell upon them. Far from these 
things troubling him, however, he seemed to con- 
sider them much as a ruler, beloved of his sub- 
jects, might the joyful greetings which filled the 
air upon his appearance. The first proceeded from 
fear, as the last would from love ; but love and 
fear are the two great forces which control man- 
kind ; and the strange man knew this well, and 
was better satisfied that his power should have its 
root in fear than in love. All he craved, was to 
possess it. 

After he had spoken, he rested his hands upon 
the stick which he carried, and stood still, eying 
the group with so strong and piercing a gaze from 
beneath his huge bushy eyebrows, that every one 
stood silent and terrified. 

Balthasar alone, who, perhaps because he had 


i6 


Angel Hilda. 


seen so much of the dead, felt less terror of the 
living, mustered courage, after a moment or two, 
to address him, 

“ Have you seen many plagues, sir, that you 
caution the people to take to heart my poor words, 
and look to God alone for help 1 ” 

The astrologer, as we shall henceforth call him, 
burst into a low, long laugh, indescribably un- 
pleasant to hear, and which had no more mirth in 
it than is in the sweep of dry leaves before an 
autumn gale, and nodded his head repeatedly as 
he answered, “ Ay, I have seen many plagues — 
plagues of all kinds — and they have always done 
their work, and destroyed those that they were 
sent to destroy.” 

These words, the manner of uttering which, 
gave them a certain weird effect, were not, as we 
may imagine, calculated to have a very inspiriting 
effect upon the by-standers, and many of them felt 
convinced, as they felt, as well as saw, those cold, 
glittering eyes fixed upon them, that they were 
the chosen victims of the swiftly advancing 


The Grave-Digger. 


17 


scourge, and that this mysterious man’s ability to 
read the future enabled him to know it. 

Inspired by fear, some of them were about to 
put some further questions to him, but the astrol- 
oger was far too elever to cheapen himself by 
being too communicative. Drawing his cloak 
around him, he passed on, and was soon lost sight 
of in the distance. 

Every one drew a long breath of relief, and all 
were just about to begin to discuss what he had 
said, when attention was diverted from it by the 
grocer, Anthony Dorn, who had slipped away 
quietly when the dire news was first read, and now 
reappeared with all of his household effects which 
he could carry. 

“ Whither are you going .? ” cried Balthasar. 

“Away from this foul air,” answered the gro- 
cer. “ I will not stop till I have placed twenty 
miles between myself and the city of Breslau. 
Farewell ! ” And, without waiting for further 
questioning, the valiant grocer rushed on his 
way. 


i8 


Angel Hilda. 


But he did not go far. When he reached the 
nearest gate, he found it closed and guarded. “It 
is the order of the magistrates,” returned the sen- 
tinel to all Anthony’s pleading, “ that no one shall 
leave Breslau. It is too late now to think of the 
forest and pure air. In Breslau you are, and in 
Breslau you must stay, till I have leave to let you 
pass.” 

The wretched grocer retraced his steps, and in- 
formed the numerous groups who were following 
his example that none might go forth, and all 
went sadly back to the rallying-place before St. 
Christopher’s. Presently, a troop of the city militia 
came marching through the city, preceded by a 
herald, who commanded that every one betake 
himself to his house at once, in order to receive 
the commands of the physicians in regard to what 
measures each should take to preserve his house- 
hold from the plague. The burghers at once dis- 
persed, and in a short time the streets of the gay, 
bustling city of Breslau were empty, and as still 
as death. 


The Grave-Digger. 


19 


Darkness fell, and the terrified people heard no 
sound through the long night, save the heavy stroke 
of the clock in the tower of St. Christopher’s, 
which, to their excited minds, seemed like the 
voice of the death-angel, brooding over their de- 
voted city. 



CHAPTER II. 


THE FIRST DEATH, AND ITS CONSEQUENCES. 



N the following morning, the peasants came 


V_y trooping towards the city with the country 
produce, lightening the way with jest and merry 
snatches of song, as was their custom. But what 
was their dismay to find the gates closed, as if the 
city were besieged. Their provisions were con- 
veyed over the wall by means of ropes, and taken 
to the market-place. 

The only household in Breslau which seemed 
free from the general alarm was that of the Krafts. 
Balthasar went about his daily mournful duty, in 
which he was assisted by his son Caspar, with un- 
daunted mien ; and Hilda, when not engaged in 
domestic duties, went about freely among the 
poor and the afflicted, dispensing alms and gentle 
sympathy. She never gave a thought to the 


The First Death. 


21 


plague, save when she found time to glide into 
the great deserted Church of St. Christopher, and 
there, before the Blessed Sacrament, beseech Our 
Lord to be merciful in His visitations upon the 
doomed city. One evening, as she passed out of 
the church into the quiet, peaceful street, she 
was met by her brother, who told her that the first 
case of the plague had been discovered. 

Hilda trembled for a moment, but she was 
most anxious not to alarm her brother, well 
knowing to dread the plague is to invite its 
attack. So she simply asked, “ Where .? ” 

“In the house of Nicholas Ord,” returned her 
brother. “ They say both he and his old servant, 
Elspeth, are dead of it.” 

“ Elspeth !” cried Hilda in dismay. “Why, ’tis 
but yesterday, just before sunset, that I saw her at 
the window, as I passed homeward. It cannot 
be!” 

“ Yes,” returned the boy, in a low voice, which 
his utmost effort could not keep from trembling, 
“ it kills in a few hours.” 


22 


Angel Hilda. 


“ It,” of course, meant the plague ; and as Hilda 
looked at the ashy paleness of the boy’s face, she 
felt her heart sink with fear, for Caspar, her only 
brother, was as dear to her as her own life. 

“ Come, Caspar,” she said, slipping her arm with- 
in his; “come home. You have been working 
too hard. Let us talk of something else, and try 
to forget all about the plague.” 

While they were walking homeward, their 
father was seated in his little room at home, 
writing. Suddenly he heard a knock upon the 
door, and in answer to his summons to enter, the 
beadle of St. Christopher’s, in full regalia, appeared 
before him ; and with majestic manner announced 
that he bore an order from the worshipful magis- 
trates for Balthasar Kraft to repair at once to the 
house of Nicholas Ord, the brewer, who, together 
with his servant, Elspeth Stumpe, was supposed 
to lie dead of the plague, and convey the bodies 
of both to the churchyard upon the hand-cart 
which the beadle would provide for that purpose, 
and give them Christian burial. 


The First Death. 


23 


Balthasar listened with his usual calm face to 
the message of the authorities, but made no reply ; 
whereupon the beadle relapsed from the official 
into the jolly neighbor ; and, leaving the doorway, 
from which point of vantage he had delivered his 
message, approached the opposite side of the little 
table at which Balthasar was seated, and said : 
“ Pretty hard thing this, neighbor, they have set 
you to do.” 

“ It is,” replied Balthasar, thoughtfully ; think- 
ing, not of himself, but of Caspar. 

“ It may turn the neighbors against you,” re- 
sumed his friend. “If they know you have been 
burying the first victim, they will be afraid to have 
anything to do with you, or with your family, even 
with Hilda ! ” 

“ I know it,” returned Balthasar sorrowfully ; 
“ still, I, as my fathers before me, have earned 
my bread by digging the graves in St. Christo- 
pher’s, and I must expect to do it during the time 
of the plague, as well as when there is none. As 
for my family,” he continued, more cheerfully, “ I 


24 


Angel Hilda. 


trust to God to protect them, as I am sure He will 
me, when I am performing my duty.” 

“ Y es, and to keep the neighbors from knowing 
anything about it” — here the simple old beadle 
glanced around to see that he was not overheard, 
and placing his hand before his mouth, leaned 
toward the grave-digger, and said in a low tone — 
“ I have not brought the hand-cart with me, as I 
was told to do. To-night, when St. Christopher’s 
bell tolls midnight, you will find it at the corner 
of the street.” 

But Balthasar only met this kind offer with a 
rather sorrowful laugh. What mattered it, he 
said, if the first victim were buried by him in 
secret ? Soon, if all that was said were true, ten 
grave-diggers instead of one would be needed, 
and people would have no more reason to fear 
him than many others. So saying, he rose, and 
directed the beadle to fetch the cart at once. 

Presently, a small procession, composed of the 
beadle and .the physicians, passed along the street 
to the house in which the rich brewer had dwelt 


The First Death. 


25 


for many years with his old housekeeper Elspeth, 
a small, sad-faced woman, who was never seen to 
smile, or utter an unnecessary word during the 
brief excursions to market and to church, which 
constituted her only outings. The gloomy old 
house, out of which, indeed, it seemed as if nothing 
bright could possibly issue, stood next to the one 
occupied by the astrologer. 

It was now after dusk, and so forbidding was 
the aspect of the tall, silent house, which seemed 
like the very home of darkness, that even the 
learned physicians were observed to shudder by the 
numerous crowd which had now gathered, though 
at some distance, as they stood before the portal, 
and one of their number raised the heavy knocker, 
and let it fall against the barred door. The noise 
resounded drearily through the silent house, but 
no answering step was heard ; and after the sum- 
mons to open had been repeated several times, all 
without came to the conclusion that Elspeth was 
indeed dead, along with her master. 

They were preparing, in consequence, to force 


26 


Angel Hilda. 


an entrance for Balthasar, for every one else 
secretly resolved to avoid the pest-laden atmos- 
phere ; when suddenly a voice proposed to burn 
the house with its fearful contents, and run no 
danger from having the latter conveyed through 
the streets. 

This proposal was unanimously acceded to, and 
in a few moments more, the fire had been started, 
and the stout old house was soon in process of de- 
struction. 

Caspar and Hilda, on their way home, had been 
attracted by the crowds who were hurrying in the 
direction of the brewer’s house, and had joined 
them. They reached the scene, and Hilda anx- 
iously inquired if they had satisfied themselves 
that no one was within the house before they fired 
it. She was assured that both were dead, and she 
was just feeling relieved in consequence, when 
suddenly at one of the upper windows of the 
burning house a woman appeared, and looked 
down with the calmness of despair upon the 
surging throng in the street. 


The First Death. 


27 


Poor Elspeth, worn out by attendance upon 
her gruff, miserly old master, had fallen asleep 
after she had seen him pass away, and had but 
just awakened. In reality, he had not died of the 
plague, and had not believed himself to be dying 
at all, so that when his half-imbecile old servant 
had proposed to fetch the priest, he had sternly 
forbidden her to do so, or even to mention to any 
one, when she went out for provisions, that he 
was sick. Neither had heard any rumors of the 
plague being on its way to Breslau ; and so when 
Elspeth had evaded all efforts to question her 
about the absence of her master from his usual 
haunts, she never imagined the suspicions which 
her conduct was arousing. As for her master, he 
was a miser and knew but one fear, that of losing 
his gold ; and if the fact of his illness were known at 
all, would have preferred to be thought sick of the 
plague rather than of any other disease, as it would 
form the best guard against his being robbed. 

But, though it had not come in the shape of the 
plague, death stood beside the old miser’s bed, and 


28 


Angel Hilda. 


he had to go and leave the gold, whose fruits he 
had never enjoyed, and which he had probably lost 
his soul in acquiring. He passed away so quietly 
that Elspeth was ignorant of the fact for some 
time after ; and when she realized it her grief was 
heartrending, to think that he had not made his 
peace with God. She grieved for him, too, as the 
only human being whose society she had known 
for many years, and who had given her a peaceful, 
even though comfortless, home. The preference 
of such beings as Elspeth is for darkness, and she 
resolved, as soon as night fell, to take her savings 
from the little iron chest in which she kept them, 
buried beneath the bricks of the cellar floor, and 
effect her escape from Breslau, for she feared lest 
she might be in some way blamable for having let 
her master die without physician or priest, or ac- 
quainting any one with the fact that he was even ill. 

But the poor exhausted creature slept through 
the night and all through the next day, and was 
not even awakened by the loud knocking at the 
door. It was only the roaring of the flames and 


The First Death. 


29 


the volumes of smoke that rushed up through the 
house that aroused her to consciousness, and to 
find death in its most awful form about to seize 
her. Her first idea was that the house had caught 
fire through her carelessness ; but when she ran to 
the window and perceived the throng of people 
in the street, she concluded that they were about 
to destroy her for concealing her master’s illness 
and death. No cry escaped her lips; the poor 
creature dumbly awaited her awful fate. 

A cry of horror went up from the throng as 
soon as she was perceived, and Hilda immediately 
urged the men to make an attempt to save her. 
But, notwithstanding the great influence which the 
young girl possessed, she could not prevail upon 
any of them to attempt it, or even to assist Cas- 
par in the work. It was too late, they assured her ; 
the house was now likely to fall at any moment. 

Finally Hilda exclaimed,“ If no one else will help 
Caspar to rescue poor Elspeth, I will ! ” and she 
rushed towards the burning mass, in the midst of 
which the figure of the poor woman was still 


30 


Angel Hilda. 


visible. A ladder was at hand and Caspar was about 
to ascend, when suddenly his father appeared and 
pulled him back, and a moment later the sturdy 
figure of Balthasar was seen ascending. He had 
almost reached Elspeth when, with a terrific crash, 
the front of the house fell in. There was a second 
of horrible suspense as to the whereabouts of 
both Balthasar and the poor woman ; then the 
smoke cleared away, and she was seen to be still 
at the window. Suddenly a voice cried out, “ She 
is a witch, that old Elspeth ! The flames can not 
harm her ! ” And then a hundred voices took up 
that fearful cry, “ She is a witch ! Let her burn ! ” 
Unmindful of this clamor, Balthasar persevered 
in his work of mercy, and presently stood by 
Elspeth’s side. She was utterly passive, and he 
could with difficulty incite her to any effort to 
save herself. Finally he lifted her out through 
the window, and descended with her in his arms, 
and had hardly touched the ground when the 
walls fell, and nothing remained of the brewer’s 
solid old house, save a heap of ruins. 


The First Death. 


31 


But it was no throng of pitying, helpful Chris- 
tians that awaited the homeless creature at the 
foot of the ladder. It was a mob which fear had 
rendered both silly and cruel. Hilda alone took 
her hand, and endeavored to rouse her from her 
trance-like state of terror. She was about to lead 
her home, when a voice cried out again, “ The 
witch has brought the plague on Breslau. Let us 
drive her out of the city, and if she attempts to 
come in again we will stone her to death.” 

A word was sufficient to make the mob follow 
this guiding voice, which was none other than 
that of the astrologer’s servant. It was in vain 
that Balthasar, Caspar, and Hilda formed a body- 
guard about the doomed Elspeth ; she was torn 
from their grasp and hurried towards the city gate 
without the least resistance, or prayer for mercy. 
It was soon reached, and she was thrust forth, the 
gates were closed and the mob gradually dispersed, 
feeling that something effectual had been done to 
check the plague. 


CHAPTER III. 


THE WITCH 



DESTITUTE wanderer in the starless 


night, Elspeth paused, uncertain which way 
to direct her steps. She had by no means realized 
why she had been so rudely thrust forth from her 
native city ; for if she could have been brought to 
express herself coherently on the subject, it would 
have been found that she thought herself neither 
better nor worse than her neighbors. However, 
the fact remained that she was now a beggar, 
and a hungry one at that. She walked on as 
fast as she was able, and finally reached a wood, 
and, utterly exhausted, lay down to sleep beneath 
an oak. 

She dreamed that she was still in the burning 
house ; that no one came to rescue her until the 
flames had reached her clothing. To save her 


The Witch. 


33 


they plunged her into a barrel of water, and then 
she awoke, shivering, to find a heavy rain falling, 
and her garments wringing wet. 

With dawn the rain ceased, and the sun ap- 
peared in all its brightness, and Elspeth walked 
on to try and procure some food. 

But she could scarcely crawl ; and one hour 
passed after another, and still brought her within 
sight of no human dwelling. The sun had sunk 
once more, and the gray dusk filled the forest when 
she at last beheld a glimmer of light, and with one 
supreme effort, hastened towards it, and found it 
to proceed from a small cottage. But before she 
could reach the door to knock for admittance, the 
watch-dog heard her and set up a furious barking. 

“ What is the matter with the dog } ” asked a 
woman’s voice within the house, and then a man’s 
voice replied : 

“He is after a cat, no doubt, that has taken 
refuge in a tree.” 

“ Open, in Heaven’s name,” cried Elspeth, with 
the strength of despair. But her weak voice 


34 


Angel Hilda. 


failed to reach the people within, and she would 
probably have lain where she was all night, 
had not the prolonged and furious barking of 
the watch-dog once more aroused the woman’s 
curiosity. 

“ He is barking at something more than a cat,” 
she declared ; “ we had better see what it is.” 

A moment later the house-door opened, and 
the man appeared with a lantern. After some 
effort, he succeeded in quieting the hound, and 
then looked around to see what had excited him, 
and found Elspeth stretched upon the ground. 

He started back at sight of her, as, indeed, 
he well might, for a picture of more utter woe 
and misery would have been hard to find. The 
long, tangled hair ; the pale face, with its hollow 
cheeks, and the bedraggled clothing, were all in 
keeping with the awful look of terror in her 
eyes. 

“ Gretchen,” he called to his wife, “ come 
hither. A woman is lying here, before the 
door.” 


The Witch. 


35 


His wife came at once, and was almost as 
much startled as himself at the sight of Elspeth, 
but quickly rallied from her fright, and said : 

“ Who are you, and what do you want ? ” 

“ I am a poor woman, and have not tasted food 
for two days,” answered Elspeth. “ For God’s 
sake, shelter me to-night ; to-morrow I will go 
away, and trouble you no more.” 

“ Bertram,” said his wife, quickly, taking the 
lantern from his hand, “carry the poor creature 
into the house. I dare not turn away a poor dying 
woman who pleads to me in God’s name.” 

Bertram did as he was bidden, and bore the un- 
expected guest within the small dwelling, and 
placed her upon a bed. He then retired, and 
Gretchen removed the poor creature’s damp 
clothing ; and having made her as comfortable as 
possible, went away, to reappear after a short time 
with some food. Poor Elspeth murmured bless- 
ings upon her hosts, as she partook of it. 

“ Do not try to talk, poor woman,” said Gret- 
chen, “but eat, and then try to sleep. You are 


36 


Angel Hilda. 


among Christians, who willingly give you a share 
of what God has given them.” 

Elspeth did as she was bidden, and was soon 
sleeping soundly. 

But many days passed before she was able to 
rise from her bed. The fatigue consequent upon 
constant attendance upon her old master, who had 
grudged her a sufficient amount of food, and her 
exposure in the forest, had weakened her to an 
alarming degree ; and if it had not been for Gret- 
chen’s faithful nursing, she would have never risen 
from the bed on which Bertram had laid herr 
But at length she was well enough to sit up, and 
knew that it was time to think of taking her de- 
parture. 

But in the meantime, Gretchen had become so 
much attached to the silent, patient woman, who 
bore her sorrow and pain with so much fortitude, 
that she resolved to give her a home beneath her 
roof. She had no children, and as her husband 
Bertram was a wood-cutter, and therefore absent 
from home all day, she often found her home in 


The Witch. 


37 


the forest very lonesome. She consulted Bertram 
on the subject, and he agreed that it would be a 
very good thing for her to have a companion, 
and especially one whom Heaven had sent to 
their door. They were talking of it, one even- 
ing, while Gretchen was seated at her spinning- 
wheel, and Bertram cut pine chips before the fire, 
when a knock was heard at the door, and their 
nearest neighbors entered for a little friendly 
chat. 

The talk soon turned to the plague, which was 
slowly investing Breslau. 

“ I wonder,” said Gretchen, “ if nothing can be 
done to check it, when it has once taken hold of 
a person.” 

“ Plenty of things are done,” returned her neigh- 
bor, “ but nothing seems to be of any use.” 

“ All people don’t die of it that get it, though,” 
said Bertram. 

“ But few escape, neighbor,” returned the visitor, 
who seemed determined to take the most doleful 


view. 


38 


Angel Hilda. 


“ I wonder where it came from first,” queried 
Gretchen. 

The doleful neighbor, who was a mason, at once 
began to give a long account of how it was 
brought from Smyrna ; but while he was doing so, 
another neighbor, a cobbler, who had joined the 
group, rolled his eyes, and lifted his eyebrows, 
and seemed dying to speak. As soon as he pos- 
sibly could, he tripped up the mason, who was 
obliged to stop, not for want of facts, but of 
breath, and said in a tone which made the blood 
of his hearers run cold, “This is not the only 
way plagues are brought amongst us.” 

A dead silence ensued for a moment, broken 
only by the crackling of the pine logs blazing 
upon the hearth, and then some one asked faintly, 
“ And how else, neighbor.?” 

“ There are often those in the midst of us,” re- 
turned the cobbler, in a deep voice, “who can do 
anything they please by the help of you know 
who.” Here Gretchen started, and piously crossed 
herself. 


The Witch. 


39 


“ And such people, of course, always wish what 
is bad to their fellow-creatures,” went on the cob- 
bler, delighted to have made a sensation. “ Now 
I will read you something that will surprise you.” 
And he drew forth a tiny book from the depths of 
his pocket, and having announced that it was writ- 
ten by one Abraham Manfridus, a physician, be- 
gan : “ In the year 1540, two Frenehmen came to 
a woman in Switzerland, and asked for three drops 
of cow’s milk, and three hairs from the tail of a filly. 
She gave them to the men, and they put them 
in a glass bottle, and then told an idiot boy to 
ascend a tree and look through the glass and tell 
them what he saw. At first he eried, ‘ I see 
nothing,’ whereupon they told him to look again. 
He did so, and cried out : ‘ I see a field full of 
dead cattle.’ 

“ With this glass they set out through Switzer- 
land, and everywhere that they looked through 
the glass, straightway the pastures were filled with 
dead cattle, so that presently, throughout the land, 
there were hardly any cattle to be ^een. Of 


40 


Angel Hilda. 


course, such conduct soon put the officers of 
justice on their track, and they were overtaken 
on the banks of a broad river. When they saw 
that they were pursued, one of them flung himself 
into the stream, and was drowned ; but the other, 
who was not so quick, was taken. On his way to 
prison, he was asked if nothing could be done for 
the poor cows who had sickened, but were not yet 
dead, and he replied, ‘ Y es, that presently a small 
leaf would grow on each of their tongues ; and 
this must be plucked forth by the root with silver 
pincers. This would leave a red spot, to which 
honey must be applied, and then the cattle would 
recover.’ The same knave, on being questioned 
about the plague, of whose coming there were 
then rumors, replied that it was on its way, and 
moved two miles farther each day, and would 
arrive at Breslau in the year 1542, which it did 
accordingly, and thus proved that the knave de- 
served the death on the gallows which he had by 
that time suffered.” 

All present were deeply impressed with this 


The Witch. 


41 


wonderful story, save Bertram, who shook his 
head and said : “ Paper is patient ; it lets men 
put down on it whatever comes into their heads, 
but a sensible man does not believe it for all that.” 

But Bertram was the only one who questioned 
the truth of the story. All the others believed it 
thoroughly. This incited the cobbler to fresh 
efforts, and he said to Bertram : “ Ah ! my friend, 
you doubt now, but you will not, in a short time ! 
I tell you it is but a few days ago, that a witch 
was in Breslau, who stood in a burning house, and 
was not even singed by the flames. A friend of 
mine told me of it this evening.” 

“ In Breslau!” shrieked the whole company in 
chorus ; “ and what became of her .? ” 

“ She waited until the house was just about to 
fall, and then sprang from the highest window in 
the house to the ground without being hurt in 
the least. Then she refused to speak a word, and 
was driven out of the city, and the people will put 
her to death if she attempts to enter again.” 
During this recital, Gretchen had turned as pale 


42 


Angel Hilda. 


as death. She now turned to her husband, and 
found that he was staring at her with all his 
might. The cobbler, pleased to have frightened 
the sceptical Bertram, went on, “ They just put 
her out in time, too, else she w’^ould have brought 
the plague in earnest, for she had already given it 
to her master; and since she went, there has not 
been a single case in the city, and it is ten days 
ago now.’’ 

“ It is she ! ” shrieked Gretchen. “ Friends, we 
have the witch in our house at this moment. And 
no doubt she will give us the plague for our kind- 
ness as she gave it to her master. Oh ! Lord, 
have mercy upon us ! ” 

In an instant confusion reigned in the hitherto 
peaceful circle. Every one of the guests ran to 
the door, the cobbler foremost, and was about to 
leave the house, when Bertram sprang across the 
room and, pushing them aside, planted himself 
against the door, and cried, “ Nay, my friends, you 
must not leave us alone to deal with the witch. 
Y ou especially, who know so much of witch lore. 


The Witch. 


43 


must tell us what to do,” he added, turning to the 
cobbler. 

Seeing that Bertram was resolute, the cobbler 
walked over to the hearth and took a heavy billet 
of wood.’ The others followed his example, and 
then the cobbler desired Gretchen to show him 
the room in which lay the witch. She opened the 
door, and they entered in solemn silence, to find 
poor old Elspeth wrapped in a deep, peaceful 
slumber. 

“ Awake, witch ! ” cried the cobbler in a voice 
which he endeavored in vain to keep from trem- 
bling, “ and depart from this Christian house, else 
we will kill you.” 

The poor woman opened her eyes, and when 
she perceived a band of angry men about her bed, 
began to tremble with fear. 

“ Oh ! spare me ! ” she cried ; “lam no witch. I 
call God and His holy mother to witness. I am 
only a poor wretched woman, without home or 
any friends, save these kind people.” 

“ Bah ! ” returned the cobbler, growing bolder 


44 


Angel Hilda. 


as his victim appeared timid. “ You took care not 
to let these good people know that you sprang 
from a blazing house all the way to the ground 
without being hurt. How could you do that, if 
you were not a witch 1 ” 

“ I never did it ! ” cried Elspeth. “ It was Bal- 
thasar Kraft who came up to where I was on a 
ladder and carried me down in his arms.” 

At this the rage of the company waxed strong. 
“ Hear her ! J ust hear her ! ” they cried. “ She 
accuses the worthy Balthasar Kraft, one of the 
best men of Breslau, of having gone up to save 
her. As if he would go near a witch !” 

“ Enough ! ” cried Bertram, sternly. “ Arise, wo- 
man, and go forth. You can not remain longer 
beneath the roof of an honest man, since you are 
accused of witchcraft.” 

“Where shall I go.?” inquired the unhappy 
Elspeth. “Ah! have mercy upon me. At least 
wait until morning. Do not drive me forth at 
night.” 

“ This very instant ! ” cried the cobbler, who was 


The Witch. 


45 


now the bravest of the brave, and felt equal to 
encountering a score of witehes. 

They retired in order to permit Elspeth to 
clothe herself, and sat in the outer room in silence, 
with their eyes fixed upon the door, which alone 
permitted egress from her chamber, as if they ex- 
peeted her to pass through the keyhole. After a 
short time, Elspeth appeared, meek and pale from 
her illness, and sobbing in a way that would have 
touched any hearts that were not rendered stony by 
a foolish dread. One more appeal Elspeth made ; 
she rushed over to Gretchen and attempted to 
seize her hand. But this woman, whom until now 
she had found in truth to be a good Samaritan, 
reeoiled from her in horror. Then Elspeth saw 
that all was useless, and resigned herself to her 
fate. She went towards the door, but paused on 
the threshold, and turning towards Gretchen and 
Bertram, said: “May Godin Heaven bless you 
for your goodness to a poor wanderer. I forgive 
you for driving me forth, for I know you do it 
through fear, and not through malice. Some time 


46 Angel Hilda. 

you will learn that I am innocent, if not on earth, 
at least in heaven.” 

Gretchen burst into tears and made a half 
motion to go towards her. But a glance at the 
stony faces about her made her give up the idea; 
and an instant after, poor Elspeth had passed out 
into the cheerless night, and heard the heavy door 
barred between her and her late home. 


CHAPTER IV. 


SEEKING THE TREASURE. 

) soon as poor Elspeth had somewhat re- 



-tv covered from this last shock, she began 
to think of whither she should direct her steps. 
If she had but her little savings with her ! There 
was another strong box in the cellar, her master’s 
large, well-filled one ; and this she knew, by right, 
belonged to his sister in Prague. If she could 
only secure its contents, she would walk all the 
way to Prague, and give this money to her, and 
then perhaps she might in return give her a home 
for the remainder of her life. It is doubtful if the 
poor creature really understood that she had been 
forbidden to enter the city again ; the only fact 
she fully comprehended was that if she were seen 
she would be called a witch ; and to be called a 
witch meant to be feared and hunted like a wild 


48 


Angel Hilda. 


beast. She passed the night in the wood, and 
next day walked in the direction of Breslau, 
which she reached at evening. Not daring to 
show herself at the city gate, she waited for some 
chance to favor her secret entrance. Hour after 
hour went by, and brought no opportunity, how- 
ever, until at last, just about midnight, a heavy 
traveling carriage drove up and paused for a mo- 
ment at the gates. In an instant Elspeth had 
caught on to it, and was whirled rapidly within 
the city, and through the streets to the door of 
the principal inn, where it stopped. Elspeth then 
let go and set out for the ruins of her home, keep- 
ing within the shadow of the tall houses, so as to 
escape observation. This was no difficult matter 
to. do on a moonless night in the seventeenth cen- 
tury, for the oil lamps, which were placed at wide 
distances from one another to light the streets, did 
it so badly that it was quite possible for one to go 
from one end of the city to the other without 
being seen. 

At last, just as St. Christopher’s clock struck 


Seeking the Treasure. 


49 


one, Elspeth reached the heap of ruins. Arming 
herself with a half-burned piece of wood, she pro- 
ceeded to scrape away the debris. It was a tedious 
and difficult task, but at last she succeeded in 
extricating both the strong boxes. The contents 
of her own she transferred to her pocket ; but she 
had no key with which to open her master’s, 
so she was drawing it from its resting-place to 
carry it off, when a hand was suddenly laid 
upon her head. With a suppressed scream, she 
sprang up, to find herself confronted with the 
servant of the astrologer, who lived next door. 
“ Whither away, fair lady, with all this treasure 1 ” 
he said, mockingly. 

Elspeth threw herself upon her knees. “It is 
not mine, I call God to witness,” she cried. “ O, do 
not betray me. I am only a poor servant whom 
some wicked person has denounced as a witch. 
I am going to walk to Prague to take this money 
to my dead master’s sister, who dwells in that city.” 

“Betray you ! ” replied the man, with an injured 
air. “ I pray you, mistress, tell me, what kind of 


50 


Angel Hilda. 


a man you take me for, to betray a poor hunted 
creature like yourself?” 

“Forgive me,” said Elspeth, humbly. “And 
now, farewell. Already dawn brightens the sky, 
and I should be far on my road by this time.” 

“ And how are you going to pass the gate with 
this?” asked the man, tapping the strong box 
with his stick. 

“ I will trust to God to permit me to pass out 
unnoticed, as I entered,” answered Elspeth. 

The man could hardly control his laughter at 
this reply. 

“ My poor woman,” he said, “ I do not know 
how you managed to get in, but I do know that 
you had not this with you. Now, to attempt to 
go out with it, is perfect madness, and if you are 
arrested, there is an order from the magistrates to 
put you in prison, which you will never leave, 
except to suffer death at the stake.” 

Poor Elspeth shivered like an aspen leaf, upon 
hearing this dreadful sketch of her future, should 
she fall into the hands of the city authorities. 


Seeking the Treasure. 


51 


“ What am I to do ? ” she gasped. 

The man paused for a moment or two, as if to 
reflect, and then said, as if in obedience to a sud- 
den impulse : “ Come with me, poor creature. 
Neither my master nor myself believe any of 
these silly tales about witches or witchcraft. My 
master is far too learned a man for that. I will 
tell him your story, and ask him to shelter you in 
his house until he quits the city, which he is about 
to do in four weeks’ time. Perhaps he will even 
do more ; he may give you a place in his carriage 
until you are far beyond the walls of Breslau.” 

Elspeth clasped her hands, and sobbed out her 
thanks. To have any one who really knew all 
the hideous tales that had been spread about her 
offer to befriend her, was a joy to her sad soul. 
She accepted his offer, and he picked up the strong 
box, and conducted her to his master’s dwelling. 
In response to his knock, the door was opened by 
the latter, in a dressing-gown and black velvet 
skull-cap. He made a slight motion of surprise 
on perceiving Elspeth, but received her kindly. 


52 


Angel Hilda. 


and listened to her sad story patiently. He 
granted all that his servant had promised ; and 
assured her that she was safe within his house, 
which no stranger ever entered. He promised 
also to take her with him in his traveling-carriage, 
when he left Breslau; and, having directed his 
servant where to place the coffer, told him to 
conduct Elspeth to her apartment, and dismissed 
her with a few kind words, and a friendly smile. 

He paced the room uneasily, until his servant 
returned, and then inquired : “ Think you there is 
any more treasure in the ruins I ” 

“ No,” replied the servant, “for she would have 
known it, had there been more. I think we have 
all the old miser’s gold here ; ” and he pointed to 
the strong box which lay in a corner of the room ; 
“and, to judge by its weight, there is no mean 
sum inside.” 

“ Strange,” returned the astrologer, musingly, 
“that this woman should have returned on the 
very night we had chosen to search the ruins.” 

“ It is well,” answered the servant. “ She went 


Seeking the Treasure. 


53 


at once to the spot, and saved us the trouble of 
searching all over the ruins. Now that we have 
the money, she is easily disposed of. Just let the 
people know that she is within the house, and 
they will soon have the witch out.” 

“Yes,” returned his worthy master; “or we 
could leave her here, and escape during the night 
with the money. But we can talk of this later, 
when our plans are all made up. Only one thing 
must not be permitted, that the magistrates hear 
of the existence of this strong box. If they do, 
farewell to it, as far as we are concerned.” 

“No fear of that happening,” replied the ser- 
vant, and then retired to permit his master to take 
a few hours’ rest. 

In truth, poor Elspeth had fallen into the hands 
of a pair of thorough rogues. The master did, in- 
deed, pretend to be an astrologer, but, as none of 
those remarkable coincidences which had favored 
other astrologers by rendering their predictions 
true, had ever occurred in his case, he gradually 
lost repute, and was driven to find a livelihood by 


54 


Angel Hilda. 


gaming. His luck was great for a time, during 
which he lived well ; but when it forsook him, it 
did so completely, and he was obliged to leave 
city after city, on account of debts. Finally, they 
— for his servant was his faithful ally during his 
unfortunate as well as his fortunate days — came 
to Breslau, where, after a time, the astrologer in- 
tended to exercise his profession once more. 

But the death of the miser who resided next 
door, had suddenly inspired him with the idea 
of sending his servant out to spread the report 
that both he and his servant had died of the 
plague, and thus, by keeping every one away from 
the house, rob it at his leisure. At this time both 
he and his servant really believed that Elspeth 
had died along with her master. The chagrin of 
'the latter was great, when he saw that Balthasar 
Kraft was about to enter the house in spite of the 
plague. It was then that he conceived the idea 
of burning the house, and he raised the cry, ac- 
cordingly, and soon had the satisfaction of per- 
ceiving it in flames. But then, Elspeth appeared 


Seeking the Treasure. 


55 


at the window to destroy all his plans, and the 
only way of getting rid of her that occurred to 
him was to denounce her as a witch ; and we have 
seen how well he succeeded. 

To have her appearing again was provoking, but 
he went off to bed revolving in his mind the best 
way to finally rid themselves of her, while poor 
Elspeth lay calmly sleeping, after having implored 
the blessing of Heaven upon her benefactors. 



CHAPTER V. 


THE PLAGUE. 


^TER the witch had been finally thrust out 



of the city, and the gate locked, the people 
of Breslau breathed more freely than they had 
done for some time back. But soon all their ter- 
rors returned ; for the plague marked the hap- 
less city for its own. Deaths began to occur 
by tens, then by fifties ; and at length, it was no 
uncommon thing to see hundreds in one day 
of its dreadful reign. Balthasar Kraft, assisted 
by his son Caspar, and a few poor wretches 
whom they had succeeded in hiring to assist in 
their dreadful work, labored night and day to give 
Christian burial to the victims. Poor Balthasar 
had long since given up writing in his great book ; 
indeed, he was hardly able to visit home at all. 
But at last, one day, he felt himself sickening ; 


The Plague, 


57 


and sickening with all the fearful symptoms which 
announced the plague. He tried to reach home 
without seeking Caspar’s aid ; but just as he 
reached his own door, and knocked, he fell in a 
swoon, and so Hilda found him when she opened 
the door. She summoned her mother, and to- 
gether they lifted him up and carried him to his 
bed. Then they set to nurse him, and defeat, if 
possible, the grim foe who had smitten him. 

But one day, Magdalene Kraft, the mother, 
suddenly tottered and fell, and Hilda henceforth 
had two patients on her hands. Still, she bravely 
kept to her post ; and was just feeling rewarded 
by some hope of success, when Caspar fell sick 
with the same awful symptoms. Then Hilda 
went out to seek help in her task, but could find 
none able, though many were willing to assist her. 
She was returning home weeping, when she en- 
countered the astrologer’s servant, who inquired 
the cause of her grief. She told him, and instantly 
he conceived the thought of getting rid of the un- 
welcome guest at his master’s house. 


58 


Angel Hilda. 


“Can I trust you to keep a secret which in- 
volves a person’s life ? ” he asked in a solemn tone, 
“ I would rather not know any such secret,” re- 
turned Hilda, simply, “ Secrets are troublesome 
possessions, and I have care enough on my mind 
at present without taking more,” 

“Nay,” returned the man, “but if I mistake 
not, you would be glad to learn the secret which 
I can tell you. It concerns Elspeth, who was 
lately reported to be a witch,” 

“ Elspeth !” returned Hilda, radiant with delight, 
“ Ah, if I could but find her, I should need no 
better nor kinder nurse to assist me in bringing 
my poor sick ones back to health and strength. 
Is she still living 1 ” 

“ She is,” returned the astrologer’s servant, “ and 
not very far from here. In fact, my master has 
given her a shelter within his house. When I 
return home I will tell her that I have seen you, 
and if she consents to go and help you nurse your 
sick, I will conduct her to your house after night- 
fall,” So saying, he departed, and Hilda returned 


The Plague. 


59 


home comforted with the prospect of soon having 
some one to assist her in her difficult work. 

The astrologer’s servant proved as good as his 
word ; for, some time after nightfall, a knock was 
heard at the door, and Hilda opening it, discov- 
ered a well-muffled figure whom she could hardly 
recognize as Elspeth. She greeted her joy- 
fully, and in a short time Elspeth, who had done 
much nursing in her life, became as familiar a 
figure in the sick rooms to Hilda, as if she had 
always dwelt beneath the grave-digger’s roof Eor 
a few days all went well, and then, just as Bal- 
thasar was slowly struggling back to life, Hilda 
sickened, and was soon the sickest of the patients. 
Everything that love could prompt Elspeth to do 
she did ; and as Balthasar was soon able to give 
some aid in nursing the child who was as dear to 
him as the apple of his eye, she slowly returned to 
health and strength. 

But all these events which we have described in 
a few words occupied many weary weeks, and it 
was two months from the time that Elspeth had 


6o Angel Hilda. 

re-entered Breslau that the Krafts were once more 
gathered around the family table. To have their 
little circle unbroken after the visitation of the 
plague upon it, was indeed marvelous, and what 
perhaps no other household in Breslau could 
boast. Elspeth was an honored guest at this first 
meal ; and after Balthasar had said grace, he turned 
to her and said, “ Elspeth, neither I nor any of my 
family can ever forget what you have done for us 
— no, even though we were to grow to be as old 
as Methuselah. We are poor and have naught to 
give you in return, save the shelter of this poor 
home till the day of your death ; but there is One 
above who in His own good time will reward you.” 

“Nay,” replied Elspeth, “do not speak of it, I 
pray you. Who came to seek me when I stood at 
the topmost window of my master’s burning 
house but you, Balthasar Kraft 1 And do I not 
owe you my life in return, if it- would do you or 
yours any good ? ” 

“ But tell me, Elspeth,” here interrupted Mag- 
dalene, “ how came you to go to the astrologer’s 


The Plague. 


6i 


house ? I fear much that if the people were to 
learn you had chosen that man’s house to hide in, 
it would greatly increase their anger against you.” 

“ What could I do I ” answered Elspeth ; and then 
she told them, whom her instinct told her were 
truer friends to her than the crafty astrologer and 
his servant, the story of the strong box. They 
applauded her resolution of taking it to Prague 
and giving it to the dead man’s sister; but the 
brow of honest Balthasar was deeply wrinkled in 
the effort to plan out some way of conducting 
Elspeth safely out of the city. 

But when he mentioned this difficulty, Elspeth 
informed him that the astrologer had kindly con- 
sented to take her in his carriage to some distance 
without the walls of Breslau. But instead of ap- 
pearing glad to hear this piece of news, Balthasar 
shook his head sorrowfully from side to side, 
and said, slowly and solemnly, “ Elspeth, Heaven 
knows I love not to speak ill of my neighbor, least 
of all when the mercy of God has just raised me 
from a bed of sickness, but I feel that I must warn 


62 


Angel Hilda. 


you against that man. I do not accuse him of 
sorcery or magic” — here he lowered his voice — 
“but I do not think he is the kind of man who 
would put himself out to do an act of kindness for 
simply God’s sake to any living creature. How- 
ever, you have friends here who will do their best 
to save you from wrong.” 

“You have, indeed,” here put in Magdalene, 
Caspar, and Hilda together. 

“ Therefore, my advice to you is, for the present 
to return to where your money is. Keep a watch 
on their movements without appearing to do so ; 
and for that matter, they can not very well leave 
the city with your treasure for awhile, as all per- 
sons are forbidden to do so.” 

That evening, Elspeth returned to the astrolo- 
ger’s house, and the next morning Balthasar and 
Caspar began to exercise their sad office once 
more in behalf of those who had not been so 
fortunate as themselves. 

So fiercely did the plague now rage that it 
required the utmost efforts of the devoted priests 


The Plague. 


63 


to secure the last sacraments to the dying. There 
was no parting benediction, no tolling bell ; no 
train of mourners accompanied the dead to their 
final resting-place, but they were hurriedly thrust 
beneath the earth, lest their presence poison the 
air for the living. All business had ceased ; there 
was no sign of life within the empty streets, no 
sound broke the silence, save the rattle of the dead 
carts, and the fearful cry, “ Bring out your dead !” 



CHAPTER VI. 


ANGEL HILDA. . 

O NE evening, Balthasar Kraft had returned 
to the house, feeling deathly tired. He 
sat down in his usual seat by his desk, and was 
thinking sadly of all his kinsfolk, neighbors, and 
friends whom he had helped to place in their 
graves within the last few months, when suddenly 
deep groans were heard from the other side of the 
wall which separated his house from Anthony 
Dorn’s, the grocer. This singular individual, who 
it will be remembered, had made an effort to leave 
the city at the first mention of the plague, had 
hired a boy to wait upon the customers in the 
shop, and retired to his rooms behind it, where he 
dwelt without holding the slightest communica- 
tion with any living being. He had hoped by 
this supreme selfishness to escape the plague, but 


Angel Hilda, 


65 


his precautions were of no avail, and the groans 
which Balthasar heard were proceeding from him 
as he lay on his bed in his lonely room, with all 
the marks of the dread plague upon him. The 
grave-digger went in to him, and found him in 
mortal terror, Balthasar made him as comfort- 
able as was possible under the circumstances, and 
then went off to seek a priest. After Anthony 
had made his confession, he seemed a little easier; 
and Balthasar having promised to look in again 
before going to rest, went back to his own house. 

When he related the fact of Anthony’s sick- 
ness to his wife, he observed that while his wife 
and daughter were expressing their sympathy, 
they were also exchanging meaning glances. But 
he said nothing, for he well knew that he would 
be told everything in good time. After his 
supper he went back once more to his favorite 
seat, and presently his wife and daughter entered 
and seated themselves near him. After some 
brief talk upon the incidents of the day, his wife 
said, “ Balthasar, the hand of the Lord has been 


66 


Angel Hilda. 


heavy upon us, but in His mercy He has spared 
us to one another, while thousands of other house- 
holds are desolate. Therefore, Hilda and I have 
come to think that it is but just that we should 
do something to show our gratitude to the good 
God. So, if you are willing, we will go about and 
visit those who are sick and have none to tend 
them. Perhaps we shall be able to find some 
building that we could make into a hospital for 
these poor people.” 

Balthasar’s eyes filled with tears. “ Blessed be 
God!” cried the good man, “who has given me 
so noble a wife and so good and pious a daughter. 
Yes, go in the name of God, and do this good 
work, and He will reward you as you deserve.” 

“That is well,” replied his wife ; and then turn- 
ing to her daughter, she said, “ Since your father 
consents, I think it would be well to begin our 
work with a visit to this poor man who lies sick 
next door.” 

“ One thing more,” said Balthasar, as they were 
about to quit the room ; “ never interrupt your 


Angel Hilda. 67 

good work to attend to me. I can make out 
excellently well with the help of Caspar.” 

Hilda ran back to him, and putting her arms 
about his neck, kissed him fondly. “ Y ou are a 
noble man, father,” she whispered in his ear. And 
then she hastened from the room before he had 
time to reply, leaving him sad, indeed, as he 
thought that many days would go by before her 
presence brightened the house again. 

They set to work at once to nurse Anthony, 
and were successful in restoring him to health. 
But long before that happy end was reached, 
they had a host of sick-beds to attend, for the 
good work which they had undertaken was soon 
noised through the whole city. At length one 
day, as Hilda was hastening past the empty 
barracks — for the city militia were disbanded — 
the idea occurred to her to get permission to 
remove the sick thither, and thus save the time 
which was lost in going from one house to 
another. She communicated this idea to her 
mother, who was extremely pleased with it, and 


68 


Angel Hilda. 


Hilda accordingly applied for permission to do 
so to the city authorities. But it was very diffi- 
cult to get it, for the city official whose province 
it was to allow it, had shut himself up, no one knew 
where ; and many thought he had fled from the 
city. But at last leave was obtained, and soon 
the guard-room of the barracks was lined with 
beds. 

And now it was seen that the name of Angel 
Hilda was truly merited by the young girl. Like 
a true Sister of Charity, she glided from bed to 
bed, soothing the sick, and calming the dying. 
Even the physicians who had been appointed by 
the city, at times grew weary, but Hilda seemed 
supported by strength from Heaven, that never 
became exhausted. 

At length several other women, inspired by 
their noble example, came to lend their aid to 
Magdalene and her daughter. This increase of 
their hospital staff enabled them to save many 
more lives ; and at last, after many weary days and 
nights, the plague ceased to rage with extreme 


Angel Hilda. 69 

violence, and the people of Breslau began to look 
for better days. 

One afternoon, as these devoted women were 
all busy attending to their duties within the hos- 
pital, they heard terrible cries in the street, which 
grew louder and louder every instant. In the 
wildest terror, the sick clung to them, and im- 
plored to know the cause of the outcry. After 
trying for some time to calm them, but in vain, 
Hilda approached the window, and opening it, 
leaned out into the street. But she could per- 
ceive ■ nothing, though the roars of an excited 
throng told that they were at no great distance. 

“What can be the matter ejaculated Mag- 
dalene, who had by this time joined her daughter. 

Hilda was about to reply, but the words died 
away on her lips without ever having been 
uttered ; for at that instant a woman with stream- 
ing gray hair, face covered with blood, and gar- 
ments in rags about her, came running with the 
speed which the dread of death alone can give. An 
instant later a throng of men and women came 


70 


Angel Hilda. 


into sight, armed with every conceivable kind of 
weapon that could be found at a moment’s warn- 
ing ; the men with axes, spades, knives, and the 
women with their household implements. They 
were wild with rage, and a thirst for the blood of 
the unhappy Elspeth transformed their faces until 
they glared like so many demons. They were 
gaining on the object of their chase, too, as they 
rushed on with frantic shouts of “ Death to the 
witch ! Of course the plague came back to us, 
when that accursed witch came back into the 
city ! ” And in a few moments all would have 
been over with the* poor woman, had not Hilda 
sprung to the door, and opening it, run quickly into 
the street. To Elspeth she seemed like an angel 
whom Heaven had sent to deliver her from those 
whose breath she seemed to feel upon her cheek, 
hot with thirst for her blood. She ran towards 
her with outstretched hands, one of which Hilda 
grasped, and with fleet steps almost carried her 
to where Magdalene waited by the heavy open 
door of the barracks, ready to close and bar it the 


Angel Hilda. 


71 


instant they should have attained its shelter. Poor 
Elspeth’s heart bounded like a mad thing; the 
hope of safety but a few yards away, only made 
the danger of death seem more cruel by contrast. 
Hilda breathed wordless prayers as she bounded 
along ; and the fierce roars of their pursuers grew 
deeper and more vindictive, as they comprehended 
her purpose. They gained upon them ; Hilda 
felt it and she cried out, “ O, God, do not forsake 
us ! ” and the prayer of the noble, resolute girl 
was answered. Another moment and they had 
passed within the barracks, and Elspeth had fallen 
in a heap at the feet of her preserver. The heavy 
door was barred just, as the mob arrived before it. 
With thundering knocks, they demanded that the 
witch be given up to them. 

When no answer was returned to this summons, 
comparative silence ensued for some time, and 
then a voice cried : “ Give us the infamous crea- 
ture who has brought the plague into our city ; 
she has poisoned the wells, and enchanted our 
food with her black arts, and misery will not 


72 Angel Hilda. 

depart from the city until she has been put to 
death.” 

Such cries as these, resounding within the 
chamber where many were passing away, and 
others were trembling between life and death, had 
an indescribably awful effect. A panic ensued 
among the sick who were able to understand 
what was passing around them ; and while some 
forbore, through shame of proposing such a thing 
to the noble women who had done so much for 
them, there were those who did not hesitate 
to beg Hilda and her mother to give up Elspeth 
to her pursuers. It required all Hilda’s self- 
command not to rebuke these cowardly wretches 
with all the righteous anger which their horrible 
request excited ; but her only answer was to point 
to the crucifix and say, “ God will protect us if we 
do our duty. You ask me to commit an awful 
crime when you beg me to give up a human 
being, made in His image and likeness, to be torn 
to pieces by a furious mob.” 

“ But they may burn down the building over our 


Angel Hilda. 


73 


heads,” was the answer of one more persistent 
than the rest had courage to be, in view of 
Hilda’s resolute manner. 

“ I do not believe them capable of such a 
crime,” replied Hilda. “ Still, even if they com- 
mit so fearful a crime, we shall at least die inno- 
cent. At all events, I will never give up a poor, 
half-imbecile creature to their fury.” 

Just as the patient had supposed, in a few mo- 
ments cries rang out of “ Burn it down ! Set fire 
to the hole in which the rat has taken refuge. 
We’ll rid Breslau of her, even if we have to burn 
down the whole city.” 

Magdalene, who had thought that the presence 
of many of their relatives within the building 
would have deterred the mob from all idea of 
such a thing, was stricken with terror at the sound 
of these yells, and turned to her daughter with a 
face as pale as ashes, as if to ask her what she 
should do. Not that any thought of giving up 
poor Elspeth crossed her mind, it must in justice 
be said for her, but simply because, in her terror, 


74 Angel Hilda. 

she looked to her daughter, as to the stronger 
spirit, for guidance. 

Hilda’s course was soon resolved upon. From 
the comparative silence which reigned without, 
she knew that the suggestion of firing the building 
was being acted upon, and that they were busy 
collecting materials for that purpose. With an 
injunction for them all to unite in prayer, she left 
the room, and ascending to an upper story, pres- 
ently appeared on a small balcony, from which 
dignitaries frequently beheld processions. 

The appearance of the young girl suspended 
the operations of the mob, and held them in 
silence for a few moments. 

“In the name of God,” cried Hilda, solemnly, 
“ I order you to depart and leave those within this 
building at peace.” 

“Give us the witch,” responded a voice, “and 
we will molest you no further.” 

“ Y es, give us the witch,” chorused the mob, 
“ or we will not leave a stone upon a stone of the 
barracks.” 


Angel Hilda. 


75 


“ My good friends,” said Hilda, entreatingly ; 
“my towns-people, among whom I have been 
brought up to womanhood, you know me well. 
I leave it to yourselves ; would I try to save a 
criminal from his just punishment.? Would I 
place my life in peril to save the life of one whom 
I knew had willingly wronged his neighbors ? If 
you listen to your own hearts, you will, I know, 
agree that Hilda Kraft would not be guilty of 
such an act. But O, my friends, think what you 
are about, I beg of you. For no reason in the 
world, you turn upon a poor weak woman, as the 
cause of the affliction which God Himself has sent 
upon our city. Beware lest you only excite His 
wrath the more ! 

“ Remember, too,” she continued, encouraged 
by a slight hesitation among the mob, “ that with- 
in this building lie the parents, brothers, or sisters 
of many of you. They are filled with terror at 
your cries and threats. Will you not have mercy 
upon them .? 

“ As for myself, in days gone by, you have often 


76 


Angel Hilda. 


saluted me by a name which was far too good for 
me. To-day, I beg you, by the memory of it, as 
a recompense for any little good I may have done, 
and which you have often told me you could never 
repay, to depart and leave all those in this house 
at peace. 

“ I declare to you, my friends, that I would give 
my life to do you good, but I can not, I must 
not, I dare not help you to commit a crime that 
would cry to Heaven for vengeance. Go, and in 
happier days you will thank me for having kept 
you from an act that would bring remorse to your 
souls ! ” 

A moment’s pause succeeded, during which 
Hilda prayed with all her heart. Then the tumult 
was beginning again, when suddenly Magdalene 
appeared on the balcony beside her daughter, and 
put up her hand to implore silence. 

“My good friends,” she said, “ have you remem- 
bered that if you burn this building, the sick will 
have, henceforth, neither hospital nor nurses? 
The plague has been checked, simply because the 


Angel Hilda. 77 

sick have been taken from their homes. Those 
who fall sick henceforth will be compelled to 
breathe the same air with the rest o( the house- 
hold, and so every home will become infected, and 
there will be safety for none.” 

“ She is right, she is right ! ” cried several ; “ let 
us go. We can watch till the witch comes 
out.” 

“ But there will be no plague if the witch is 
burned,” cried another group, “ and then we shall 
be really safe.” 

At this, the tumult redoubled, and a crowd 
rushed forward with armfuls of straw, while others, 
touched by Hilda’s generous resolve, and remem- 
bering all the good she had done to the people 
who were even now willing to destroy her, in 
order to accomplish their wicked ends, exhorted 
her to give up Elspeth, and save her life, and the 
lives of so many others. 

Meanwhile, Hilda was in sore perplexity. She 
had never counted upon their sacrificing their own 
flesh and blood, and even now, half believed that 


78 


Angel Hilda. 


all their preparations were but to frighten her into 
giving up their victim to them. Still, in case they 
were really resolved to even take the lives of their 
relatives, sooner than resign their prey, was it right 
for her to permit many other lives to be sacrificed, 
along with Elspeth’s, which she was, in either case, 
powerless to save ? 

She threw herself on her knees, and prayed with 
all the strength of her soul to be directed by God 
in this fearful crisis. The dreadful preparations 
of the mob were almost completed, when far off, 
she heard the sound of a bell. Hope revived in 
her soul, for she recognized it as the sound which 
announced to all passers-by that the priest was on 
his way with the Viaticum to the dying. But, 
lately, there had been no bell, for the priest could 
find none, in the plague-ridden city, to accompany 
him, and Hilda started to her feet, convinced that 
it was her father who had chosen this way to 
come to her assistance. And true enough, in a 
moment after, her father turned the corner of the 
street which led from the great square to the bar- 


Angel Hilda. 


79 


racks, followed by the pastor of St. Christopher’s, 
with the Blessed Sacrament. 

A hush fell upon the throng, and they opened 
a passage as the sound of the silver bell that 
seemed like the still, small voice of conscience, 
came nearer. All fell upon their knees, as the 
white-haired old pastor followed, bearing the 
Friend who comes to all that seek Him, as well in 
the darkest as- in the brightest hours. 

As the priest reached the door, it opened to re- 
ceive him, and from within there came through the 
deep silence, the faint sound of murmured prayer. 
Upon the threshold, he turned and said, in a voice 
which age had rendered tremulous : 

“ My children, as your pastor, I command you, 
in the name of the God whom I am bearing to 
those who are dying within this building, to desist 
from your wicked purpose.” 

He turned, and passed through the portal, which 
vvas instantly closed. Some time went by, and still 
the worst of the mob lingered, though the greater 
part dispersed at the command of their pastor. 


8o 


Angel Hilda. 


But the leaders whispered that, after a time, he 
would go back, and leave them their prey ; for 
they felt quite certain that Hilda would yield, 
sooner than sacrifice all the inmates of the hos- 
pital, herself included. But they who said so, did 
not know Hilda, and knew Father Peter still 
less. As time went on, and he saw that the 
mob were still in front of the hospital, he as- 
cended to the balcony, and stepping without, 
elevated the Sacred Host, and commanded them 
to depart instantly. This command they dared 
not disobey, and departed in silence, while those 
within the hospital thanked God with all their 
hearts, for having so wonderfully delivered 
them. 

Father Peter remained with them for several 
hours, for the patients were in such a state of fear 
- that it required his presence to calm them. As 
for poor Elspeth, she was more dead than alive ; 
and as Hilda washed the blood from her face, and 
did up her long gray hair, and put garments of 
her own upon her, she felt her heart swell with 


Angel Hilda. 8i 

indignation at the folly and cruelty of her towns- 
people. 

It had been settled that she should return home 
with Father Peter as soon as darkness fell, and 
remain secreted in his house until the plague 
should have ceased its ravages. But, while he is 
busy with the dying, let us relate how Elspeth had 
come to fall into the hands of the mob. 

When the astrologer’s servant had conducted 
her to the grave-digger’s house, he hoped that he 
had seen the last of her. Both he and his master 
felt quite certain that she would never escape the 
disease when brought into such close contact with 
It. Week after week went by, and finally an op- 
portunity presented itself for them to leave the 
city. Everything was arranged for them to set 
out the following morning; and the servant, in 
the excess of his delight at leaving Breslau, was 
capering about one night in the kitchen, when the 
door opened without any previous knocking, and 
Elspeth stood before his astonished eyes. If a 
dead woman had arisen out of the churchyard, 


82 


Angel Hilda. 


and stood before him, he eould not have been 
more terrified. But he greeted her kindly, and 
assured her that his mirth arose from the faet that 
his master had received news that in a short time 
he would be able to quit Breslau. Elspeth seemed 
satisfied, and things went on as usual, though in 
secret the astrologer and his servant cursed her 
heartily for having returned to mar all their well- 
laid plans. They were at their wits’ ends for some 
plan by which to rid themselves of her, and at last 
the servant hit upon one which they both thought 
would prove successful. For her to fall into the 
hands of the law was the last thing they desired, 
for if that occurred, they might say farewell to the 
gold ; and they knew, besides, that the wrath of 
the populace would be turned against them for 
sheltering her. The servant’s plan was this : to 
get Elspeth out of the house, into some place 
where the people could seize her, and then to 
raise the cry that the witch was once more among 
them. 

So one afternoon, having heard Elspeth express 


Angel Hilda. 


83 


a longing to make a visit to the church, he told 
her that she could do so with perfect safety, for 
the streets were deserted. The simple old woman, 
utterly forgetting Balthasar’s warning against the 
crafty pair, started accordingly, and reached the 
church safe. It was, indeed, silent and empty; 
and Elspeth crept up as close as she could get 
to the high altar, and prayed earnestly to God to 
protect and conduct her in safety out of the city. 
But dread sounds disturbed her prayer ; and soon 
the poor hunted creature heard the terrible cry, 
“ Death to the witch ! How dare she go into the 
church ! Drag her out ! ” She ran to the side 
door, where only a few of her persecutors, and 
those mostly boys, had gathered as yet. She suc- 
ceeded in passing these, though with many a mark 
of their cruel usage, and then ran blindly through 
the streets until she saw Hilda advancing to 
meet her. 


CHAPTER VII. 


ELSPETH IS ARRESTED, 


L ate that evening, when Elspeth was seated 
in the kitchen of the pastor’s home, which 
she considered a safe refuge, a loud knocking was 
heard at the entrance door of the house. The 
pastor himself went to open it, for he feared it 
might have something to do with the poor crea- 
ture to whom he had given shelter ; and, indeed, it 
had, but not in the way he feared. Instead of 
a howling mob, he found two officers of justice, 
armed with a warrant for the arrest of Elspeth 
Stumpe. The pastor of course would not inter- 
fere with the law, but he resolved to go to the 
magistrates early in the morning, and try to appeal 
to their common sense. So he went to seek Els- 
peth, whom he found sitting peacefully in the 
kitchen, telling her beads. He told her of her 


Elspeth is Arrested. 


85 


new misfortune as gently as he could, and encour- 
aged her by saying that it was the best thing that 
could happen to her, for as soon as the magistrates 
spoke with her they would see at once that the 
silly accusation of witchcraft was without a particle 
of evidence to support it, and would set her free, 
after which the people would be satisfied and leave 
her in peace. But though he spoke so bravely, 
in his heart poor Father Peter was seriously 
troubled, and felt many misgivings as to the 
result. Elspeth herself seemed to feel dimly 
that she was in as great danger from the slower 
guardians of the law as from the hasty populace, 
for she sank on her knees and asked the priest’s 
blessing, and besought him to pray for her, and 
then departed with her captors ; while Father Peter 
stood at the door and gazed after her as long as 
he could see her. 

Not a word was spoken by either the men or 
their prisoner. With each grasping one of her 
arms, she was hurried along through the nar- 
row, silent streets, lined with tall houses which 


86 


Angel Hilda. 


just permitted a narrow strip of sky, thick with 
stars, to be seen ; across the bridge which spanned 
the river Oder, flowing swiftly to the Baltic Sea, 
and down the street which led to the great, black 
prison, with its narrow grated windows. Here she 
was delivered up to the jailer, who led her along 
a stone corridor, lined on both sides with low, 
heavy doors, one of which he unlocked, and hav- 
ing thrust the unfortunate creature into the pitchy 
darkness within, locked it again and went off. 

Though Elspeth was not at all imaginative, she 
was terribly frightened at the position in which 
she found herself, and passed a night of agony. 
At last day dawned, after what appeared to her to 
be a century, and the dull glimmer which was all 
the light of day that ever struggled through the 
dusty, grated windows, showed her the heavy, 
damp, stone walls of her small cell. 

Presently the jailer came and brought her the 
bread and water which made up the prison break- 
fast ; but in his presence Elspeth maintained the 
same strange silence, which no doubt had gone 


Elspeth is Arrested. 


87 


far to strengthen the idea of her being a witch, 
and let him come and go without a word, though 
he stared at her curiously. 

A couple of hours went by, and then she heard 
the great key turning in the lock once more, and 
the jailer’s voice summoning her to go before the 
magistrates. She stepped out into the corridor, 
and followed her guide along dusky passages and 
up a flight of narrow steps, into a large apartment 
hung with black cloth, in the centre of which 
was a table bearing a crucifix, with a skull at its 
base. Round this table were grouped her judges, 
clothed in black robes, and wearing flowing wigs. 
As soon as she had taken her place before them, 
one of them arose and said solemnly, “ Elspeth 
Stumpe, you are accused of having entered into a 
compact with the evil one, and of having wrought 
with his help, much evil to the city of Breslau. 
Do you confess yourself guilty of this crime } ” 

Strengthened by the consciousness of her inno- 
cence, and by fear of the dreadful punishment 
which she knew to be the penalty of witchcraft. 


88 


Angel Hilda. 


Elspeth took a step forward, and answered clearly 
and fervently, “ My lords, I am only a poor, ig- 
norant, weak woman, and know but little of the 
arts of this world, and, I call God to witness, 
nothing at all of witchcraft. I have never sought 
to harm any human being. I do not know whether 
the devil gives power to do so, to men or not, but 
many far wiser than I, have said he does.” 

“ It is a fact, not to be doubted, woman,” an- 
swered the largest and sternest of the magistrates, 
severely. “And least of all by you, if report 
speaks truth.” 

But here another of her judges, a man with a 
wrinkled, cunning face, interposed, “ Have you 
never prepared a powder which enabled you to 
pass up through the chimney and fly over the 
roofs of the houses?” 

“Never!” cried poor Elspeth. 

“ Have you never uttered a charm over the 
wells, which rendered their waters poisonous ? ” 

“ Never, God forbid,” answered Elspeth again. 

“ Do you deny ever having rubbed a poisonous 


Elspeth is Arrested. 


89 


ointment on the doors of many houses and shops 
in Breslau ? ” continued her questioner, unmoved 
by her earnestness. 

“ I do, indeed, deny ever having done such 
wicked actions,” cried the poor woman, with a 
passion that would have convinced any one, save 
those of whom prejudice had made complete fools. 
“ I know well, to harm my neighbor in any way is 
a great sin.” 

But she might as well have declared her inno- 
cence to the thick, black-draped walls. All her 
judges felt as certain of her guilt as that they saw 
her before them ; for depositions had been made and 
sworn to in their presence, by many of the most re- 
spectable inhabitants of the city, which contained 
a recital of actions performed by her, which only 
the evil one’s aid could have enabled her to per- 
form. Thus, one set forth that she had entered the 
shop of a man whose child was slightly ill. After 
she went out, a white ointment was found on the 
threshold, and the child grew worse and died at 
evening. Another man had sworn that he saw 


90 


Angel Hilda. 


her drinking at one of the wells, and talking to 
herself, and this in preeisely that quarter of the 
city where the plague broke out, and raged with 
the greatest violence. 

Accusations similar to these were numbered by 
the score. Then came those as to her conduct in 
the burning house. How could she, except 
through witchcraft, have preserved her footing at 
the window, when all the interior of the house 
had fallen about her.? 

It was in vain Elspeth told that the floor of 
the room in which she wa^ standing had not given 
way at all ; she was not believed. 

Again, how had she managed to return into 
the city, after having been expelled from it, with- 
out any one having seen her do so? The watch- 
men at every one of the gates solemnly swore 
that she could not have passed them without 
being observed ; consequently the same evil art 
which enabled her to mount up chimneys, and fly 
over the roofs of the houses, must have made it 
possible for her to scale the wall. 


Elspeth is Arrested. 


91 


The unhappy, doomed woman replied to this 
ac usation by relating the true story of how her 
en( ranee was accomplished. But it was received 
by ler judges with the same look of stony unbe- 
lief that had met all her other explanations ; and 
wh« n she had finished, the oldest and sternest of 
her judges proceeded to address her once more, in 
measured, severe tones, “ Elspeth,” he said, “you 
would do better. to speak the truth, and the truth 
only, and thus endeavor to obtain God’s mercy 
upon your soul, and secure its safety, even though 
your body be doomed to punishment.” 

To this solemn exhortation Elspeth returned 
no answer. She kept silence, simply because she 
knew not what to say, that she had not said 
already. 

She could see that the judges were far from 
satisfied with the result of the examination, but, 
on the contrary, were resolved to use all the means 
in their power to extort a confession of guilt from 
her. This, as may be readily imagined, made the 
prospect of further inquiry a very terrible one to 


92 


Angel Hilda. 


her. Still, when she had once comprehended 
this fact, she only became more resolute in her 
purpose to say nothing further, lest some of her 
words might only be construed into an admission 
of guilt. 

After a few moments’ dreadful silence, the 
judges arose, and retired to the farther end of the 
large apartment, where they conversed for some 
time in low tones. Then they returned to their 
places, and the same severe-looking one who had 
addressed her before, spoke as follows : “ Elspeth 
Stumpe, you have denied all knowledge of acts 
which man)'’ good and respectable citizens of 
Breslau have seen you commit. This proves that 
you are not only wicked, but hardened in wicked- 
ness to a terrible degree, and that the severest 
means will have to be used in order to wring the 
truth from you. Still, as you are a woman, we 
are loath to proceed to sueh extreme measures, 
and so do once more earnestly entreat you to 
have mercy on yourself and confess, and not per- 
severe in a silence which will not save you from 


Elspeth is Arrested. 


93 


the just punishment of death, but, on the con- 
trary, only bring severe suffering upon you, along 
with it.” 

At this fearful threat, Elspeth’s courage gave 
way. She fell on her knees before her cruel per- 
secutors, and said : “ From my childhood, I have 
been nothing but a poor, ignorant servant. How 
then, think you, could I have arrived at the fear- 
ful knowledge of how to commit the strange and 
evil deeds with which you charge me ? O my 
lords, I pray you, for God’s sake, to spare me, and 
let me depart in peace. It will bring but little 
honor to the city of Breslau for her judges to put 
to death a weak, ignorant servant, because the 
plague has come.” 

“ Again, and for the last time, woman, I bid you 
confess, or take the consequences,” answered the 
judge, utterly unmoved by her passionate appeal. 

“ I have nothing to confess,” answered Elspeth. 
“ To say what you wish me to, would be to tell a 
lie, and that is always a sin.” 

The judge took up the sword which, as a sym- 


94 


Angel Hilda. 


bol of his power of life or death, lay before him 
on the table, and struck the wall three times with 
its hilt'. Immediately after, a door opened, and a 
stalwart figure appeared in the hall of justice, 
whose ferocious aspect was well calculated to 
strike terror into the heart of the boldest and 
most resolute criminal. It was that of a man 
over six feet in height, and clothed in a scarlet 
tunic, which left his muscular hirsute arms bare to 
the elbow, and his legs also from below the knee 
to his feet, which were inclosed in heavy shoes. 
His head, of coarse, shaggy hair, was surmounted 
by a high paper cap, upon which were represented 
all kinds of fantastic figures and scenes, in which 
the evil one seemed to play an important part. 

Without a word, he advanced towards Elspeth 
with a cruel, hungry look upon his face such as a 
tiger might wear when about to spring upon its 
prey. 

Elspeth was still upon her knees, with her 
hands held up in supplication to her judges ; but 
seeing from the stony look upon their counte- 


Elspeth is Arrested. 


95 


nances that nothing was to be expected from 
them, she submitted in silence to the rude grasp 
of the executioner, who drew her after him 
through the open doorway, and down a couple 
of steps, into a large room, whose darkness was 
only imperfectly relieved by lanterns, which hung 
from the ceiling. In this twilight Elspeth could 
perceive the outlines of fearful instruments which 
had forced the secrets of many a criminal from 
his pale, unwilling lips. 

“ Sit down there, old witch,” said the man, point- 
ing to a chair, “while I make my preparations.” 

Elspeth looked at the seat he pointed out to 
her, and her anxious gaze could find nought to in- 
dicate that it was anything more than a great iron 
chair. Exhausted from her long hours of stand- 
ing before her judges, the poor creature sank 
upon it ; but no sooner had the weight of her 
body pressed upon some unseen mechanism be- 
neath, than two iron hoops ran out, and instantly 
closed about her ankles, and she found herself 
confined as securely as if she had been in the 


96 


Angel Hilda. 


stocks, a fact which she speedily found out when 
she tried, instinctively, to spring away. 

“ Nay, nay, worthy Elspeth,” cried the mocking 
voice of the executioner, “ people do not get out 
of my grasp quite so easily as all that. I am 
going to place a pair of pretty shoes upon you, 
which will not yield at all to your feet, so that I 
hope, for your own sake, you have no corns.” 
With these words, the wretch turned a handle 
which was connected with the machinery inside 
the chair, and immediately her feet were inclosed 
in a pair of iron shoes. 

Anticipation of the torture which she was about 
to undergo, wrung a loud cry of anguish from 
Elspeth’s lips, which resounded through the long, 
gloomy dungeon. 

“ Ah ! yes, that is the way they all scream,” 
cried the executioner. “ I am well used to it ; I 
know exactly how they will act when they come 
under my hands. They are brave enough in 
there,” pointing to the hall of justice, “ but here 
it is quite different. But shrieks do no good ; 


Elspeth is Arrested. 


97 


these thick walls hear them, but they can give no 
help. There is only one way to escape the tor- 
ture, and that is to confess. You will scream 
louder when the shoes grow narrower.” 

As he spoke he kept turning the handle, and 
with every turn the metal shoes pressed more and 
more cruelly on Elspeth’s feet. The torture be- 
came greater and greater, and finally reached such 
a degree, that she thought she must die of it. 

“ Have pity,” she moaned ; “ release me, for God’s 
sake. I am innocent of the crimes with which I 
am charged.” 

“ I am as certain of that as I am that I live,” 
answered the torturer. “ Stupid, indeed, are the 
people who could believe that such a silly old 
creature as you, is a witch. A witch would be able 
to save herself from me and from them. Why, 
they might as well accuse me of having prevented 
rain from falling in Breslau for the last two 
months, as say that you brought the plague 
among them. Still, there is no hope for you; 
you will be made suffer torture to which this is 


A^tgel Hilda. 


nothing ; and even if you should be able to bear 
it, you still will not save yourself from death at 
the stake. For they will say that the devil, whom 
you serve, has given you strength to endure, and 
not betray yourself. Why, then, are you silly 
enough to go through all this useless suffering.? 
Confess to all that they accuse you of ; what differ- 
ence can it make .? ” 

But Elspeth returned no answer to his brutal 
counsel. She was praying, and only a slight moan 
which pain wrung from her pale lips every few 
moments, told of her fierce agony. At length she 
fell into a death-like swoon. 

“ She stands it well, does the old witch !” cried 
the executioner, with a brutal laugh, as he rudely 
dashed water over her to restore her. “ I am 
pretty sure some of her bones must be crushed, 
and yet she never gave a howl, save that first 
one.” 

He unfastened the stocks, and released the still 
unconscious woman from the torture shoes. But 
even then her senses did not return, nor for some 


Elspe th is Arrested. 


99 


time after, though he thrust burnt feathers under 
her nose, and tried various other devices. 

At length she opened her eyes, and looked 
feebly about her with an air of bewilderment. 
Then, as she moved her feet, and tried to sit up, a 
remembrance of where she was, and what she had 
gone through, flashed upon her mind, and with 
a moan, she sank back. But the executioner 
ordered her to stand up, and when he saw the 
excruciating agony which every step cost her, he 
said : “ Now, you old fool, you see what your ob- 
stinacy has brought on you. And this is only 
the first day. How do you expect to stand a 
greater torture than this, and stand it day after 
day; and what will you gain by it.? Only to go 
to the stake a mangled wreck ! ” 

Elspeth still maintained silence, for she saw 
that to speak was as useless here as it had been in 
the hall of justice. With infinite difficulty and 
pain she hobbled after her fierce guide to her 
dungeon, and there sank down exhausted on the 
little pile of straw that formed her bed. 


100 


Angel Hilda. 


During the long hours of the day, she pondered 
over what the executioner had said, and began 
to ask herself if it were better to do as he had 
advised, and face death at once, since they were 
determined upon her death, instead of after days 
of torture. She had thought in her simplicity, 
that if torture failed to wring a confession from 
her, they would recognize her innocence, and let 
her go. But since it was not so, why, indeed, de- 
fer death only by such agonizing pain .? 

But presently a ray of sunshine came to her in 
the visit of Father Peter, who had been with the 
magistrates pleading her cause, but vainly. Rooted 
in their prejudices and superstitious beliefs, they 
had turned a deaf ear to his words, and the good 
priest had left them with the words, “Woe to you 
and to the city that will shed innocent blood. Vain 
indeed are the prayers we offer day after day to 
God to shorten the days of our visitation, when 
we lift to Him hands stained with innocent blood,” 

When he entered the cell, and saw the state of 
the poor old creature, he could hardly restrain his 


Elspeth is Arrested. 


lor 


tears. But when Elspeth told him all, and asked 
him if she might not declare herself guilty of the 
crimes which they charged her with, he shook his 
head. 

“ I cannot permit you to tell a lie, Elspeth ; and 
to say you have been guilty of the acts which they 
lay at your door, would be a most wicked false- 
hood, for it would only strengthen these foolish 
people in their silly belief that there are witches.’ 
The day will come, and come soon, when the 
world will laugh at the idea of any such thing as 
witchcraft, and wonder to think that people ever 
lived who could believe such silly nonsense. But 
our lot has not been cast in that time, Elspeth, as 
you have, indeed, reason to know. I know it 
seems an easy way out of your sufferings to say 
yes to the questions of your judges; but is it not 
better to suffer a little here, and then meet your 
God with a clean soul, than to lose all the merit 
of your sufferings, and yet die .? ” 

A long time did the good priest remain with 
the poor creature consoling and strengthening her 


102 


Angel Hilda. 


by his kind words. He was deeply touched by 
her simplicity and complete lack of malice against 
her persecutors. Before going, he besought her 
to pray for the plague-stricken city, for he felt that 
the prayers of the desolate woman must be very 
powerful with God. He left her with an injunc- 
tion not to lose heart, for she knew not what God 
might do in her behalf. And poor, simple Elspeth 
did as he bade her, and spent the night — from 
which pain stole all sleep — in praying for the peo- 
ple who had caused it. The following morning, 
she was again conducted before the judges. 

“ Elspeth,” said the one who had addressed her 
the previous day, “ you have been brought before 
us this morning, in order to give you an oppor- 
tunity to confess, before you are again subjected 
to the torture. The pain of yesterday, which you 
found so severe, was nothing beside that which 
you will suffer to-day, if you persist in your obsti- 
nacy.” 

But poor Elspeth could only sob and protest 
her innocence, and beg them to have mercy. 


Elspeth is Arrested. 


103 


But mercy to a witch was the last thing any of 
that august assemblage would have been guilty of, 
and so Elspeth was consigned once more to the tor- 
turer, who appeared in response to the three raps 
upon the wall, just as he had done the day before. 
He greeted his victim with a fiendish grin, and 
led her into the gloomy chamber where his in- 
famous office was exercised. There he placed her 
upon the rack, bound and helpless, and then she 
felt her joints dragged out of their sockets. Fear- 
ful screams came from her lips ; all the fortitude 
which she had striven to acquire by prayer, seemed 
to forsake her. 

“ Well, witch, will you confess?” cried the ex- 
ecutioner, pausing in his hideous task. 

“ I am innocent,” moaned Elspeth. “I cannot die 
with a lie on my lips. Oh ! have pity ! spare me ! ” 

Her only answer was another turn of the rack, 
and then, as on the day previous, a swoon made 
her unconscious of her misery. 

When she returned to herself, the executioner 
showed the huge fire-place, over which was an in- 


104 


Angel Hilda. 


strument somewhat resembling a gridiron, and 
said : “To-morrow, witch, that shall be your por- 
tion, and you may depend upon it, fire will make 
you confess.” 

Poor Elspeth shuddered through all her racked 
frame, as she heard these words. Plow could she 
ever bear this daily recurring agony? And all 
night long, in her narrow cell, she begged of God 
to save her from the pain which was so strong a 
temptation to her to utter a lie. 

The same night, about nine o’clock, a woman 
so closely veiled and muffled as to make it im- 
possible for her to be recognized, walked rap- 
idly from the hospital to Father Peter’s house, 
and gave a low, cautious knock, to which he 
himself responded. He did not seem at all sur- 
prised to see her, and she followed him into 
his study, where she removed her head-covering, 
and disclosed the pale, anxious face of Hilda 
Kraft. 

“And so there is no hope. Father?” she said, 
sorrowfully. 


Elspeth is Arrested. 


lOS 


“ N one, my child,” returned the priest, sadly. 
“ I reasoned with the magistrates, and when that 
had no effect, implored them to consider, for their 
own sakes, the horrible thing they were doing. 
And when they still turned a deaf ear to me, I 
left them with a warning that God’s chastisement 
would be sure to follow upon the slaying of inno- 
cent blood.” 

“ If it only could be averted,” said Hilda, regard- 
ing the priest earnestly. 

“Would that it might be, indeed,” returned the 
priest, with a heavy sigh. “ But such a thing is 
impossible. After she leaves the prison, she is 
within reach of the populace, and so furious are 
they for her death, that they would tear her into 
pieces, were any attempt made to rescue her. No, 
it is not her life that I hope to save ; but I desire 
to see her die without having strengthened the 
people’s belief in their foolish superstition, by con- 
fessing what is false.” 

“And I seek to save her life,” cried Hilda, 
resolutely, “ and my native city from the crime of 


io6 


Angel Hilda. 


shedding innocent blood. I have a plan, and I 
am willing to risk my life upon its success. You 
know you have often told me, Father Peter, that 
when people have confidence in God, all things 
are easy to them.” 

Father Peter looked sorely troubled. To per- 
mit Hilda to put her plan into exeeution might be 
to have two lives lost instead of one ; but again, 
Hilda was so different from all the rest of his 
flock, she was so fertile in resources, and so suc- 
cessful in the employment of them, and above all, 
she led so pure and holy and prayerful a life, that 
he felt she should not be checked without mature 
consideration. 

So he bade Hilda tell him her plan, whieh she 
did, and when she had finished, the priest gazed 
at her, half in doubt and half in admiration of her 
courage. 

“ It may prove successful,” he said, slowly; “if 
God aids thee by circumstances.” 

“ I feel that He will,” returned Hilda, reverently. 
“ And now. Father, give me a letter to the 


Elspeth is Arrested. 


107 


Countess Emily. I must hasten, for I have 
promised to be back at my post by daybreak.” 

The Countess Emily was a very wealthy and 
charitable woman, who dwelt some distance out- 
side the gates of Breslau. Father Peter often 
had recourse to her generosity, and his confidence 
in her goodness was always justified by the event. 
He, therefore, approved of Hilda’s resolve to seek 
the Countess’ aid, and wrote the letter, which 
Hilda received with thanks; and then, after once 
more resuming her mufflings, knelt for the priest’s 
blessing, and departed. 

The following morning. Father Peter reap- 
peared in Elspeth’s cell with what was to her 
good news. Her judges had counted upon the 
priest’s inducing her to confess, but when she re- 
mained as silent as ever, they concluded that her 
obstinacy was unconquerable ; and yielding to the 
angry clamors of the people, who declared that so 
long as the witch remained above-ground there 
was no hope of the plague ceasing, they had 
decided that she should be burned at the stake 


io8 Angel Hilda. 

in the market-place of the city, at noon on the 
following day. 

At first, the knowledge that she was no more 
to enter the dreadful torture-chamber, and suffer 
the fearful pain of the day previous, over again, 
filled her heart with joy, which, however, grew 
less, as the terrific prospect of the morrow grew 
more clear to her. “Thou shalt die by fire,” is 
a sentence which may well appall those of the 
strongest will, of the greatest courage ; so its 
effect upon a weak, simple creature like Elspeth, 
may be readily imagined. 

“ Courage, Elspeth,” said the priest ; “ put your 
trust in God. He will not forsake you. He will 
do what is best for you. He has already inter- 
fered wonderfully on your behalf, in saving you 
from what you dreaded so much yesterday. And 
if He wishes to save you from the flames to-mor- 
row, He will do so, though an army guarded you.” 

He left her, after a time, somewhat comforted 
and consoled, but returned in the evening, and 
heard her general confession, and then received 


Elspeth is Arrested. 109 

her last message for Hilda and Magdalene and 
Balthasar, her only friends in Breslau. And then, 
after having promised to return early in the morn- 
ing, he bade her farewell. “ And pray, Elspeth,” 
he added, solemnly, “that God’s will may be 
accomplished in regard to you.” 

He disappeared, and the heavy cell-door closed 
behind him. But Elspeth prayed for many hours 
that God’s will would indeed be accomplished, 
whether it was that she should die in the cruel 
flames, or be saved in some way known only to 
Himself. And then she lay down and slept in 
calm and peace, as the night wore away to an- 
other dawn. 


CHAPTER VIII. 


THE ASTROLOGER’S CURE FOR THE PLAGUE. 

T he day previous, the plague had broken out 
worse than ever, after the brief respite which 
Breslau had enjoyed, and the people persisted in 
ascribing this new misfortune to the fact of the 
witch having once more gained access to the city 
from which she had been driven out so ignomin- 
iously. The astrologer and his servant mingled 
among the angry populace, which, ever since their 
baffled attempt to secure the witch two days be- 
fore, had been in a more or less riotous state, and 
disposed to commit any wild or evil act to which 
a cunning brain and persuasive tongue should 
tempt them. And presently the terrified magis- 
trates heard their howls through the thick walls 
of the town-hall, as they clamored for the witch to 
be burnt at once, and so drive away the plague. 


The Astrologer' s Cure for the Plague, 


III 


None of the magistrates were over-brave, and the 
appalling sounds of the furious mob might well 
have terrified stouter hearts than theirs. 

They rapidly came to the decision to yield, and 
appearing upon the balcony, announced that the 
wicked woman who, by means of witchcraft, had 
brought the plague upon the city, should die at 
the stake on the day following. Slightly appeased, 
the mob retired; and the magistrates, breathing 
more freely, proceeded to make out "Elspeth’s 
death warrant. 

The astrologer now proceeded to put in execu- 
tion a plan by which he hoped to escape from the 
city with his gold. He began by haranguing the 
people in regard to the ease with which the plague 
conquered its victims, and which, he assured 
them, was because no resistance was offered to its 
attack. He recommended that it be met with joy, 
instead of sorrow, with resistance instead of terror, 
with laughter instead of tears, with dancing instead 
of prayer, and see if this altered manner of recep- 
tion would not have effect upon their cruel foe- 


I 12 


Angel Hilda. 


His words were received with applause, for his 
hearers were in a state of excitement which wel- 
comed any mode of giving vent to itself. En- 
couraged by his success, the tempter went on. 
“ And so, my good friends, I recommend that to- 
morrow, whose noon shall see our common enemy, 
the witch, die at the stake in the market-place 
yonder, be spent as a f6te-day, which in truth it is, 
as we have good reason to believe that when the 
witch’s body is reduced to ashes, the plague will 
cease its ravages, and happiness once more return 
to the city.” 

Even wilder applause followed this speech than 
had greeted the first, and the people at once has- 
tened in various directions to prepare for the feast. 

The astrologer hastened homeward, along with 
the rest, but for the very different purpose of pre- 
paring for departure. The following evening, when 
the festivities should be at their height, it was his 
intention to escape through one of the gates 
which he felt tolerably certain would be unguarded, 
as his servant would endeavor to induce the watch- 


The Astrologer's Cure for the Plague. 113 

man to leave his dreary post, and mingle in the 
dance. 

As they dared not risk a carriage in which to 
carry the strong box, they broke it open, and 
were amazed at the great quantity of gold which 
they discovered within. 

“ Ha, ha!” grinned the servant, “luck has be- 
friended us all through. It was worth while, our 
little visit to Breslau, to return to Paris with such 
a heap as this,” and he thrust his long, lean fingers 
through the mass of shining, yellow coin. 

“ Y es, all works well,” returned the astrologer ; 
“ fools slave to gather what the wise gain to en- 
joy. But we must be very cautious. We are by 
no means safe yet. Much depends on you.” 

“ I will not fail,” returned the servant ; “ but it 
strikes me, our principal danger is, that Elspeth 
may tell the priest that we have this strong box, 
and send him to demand it from us.” 

“He will hardly do so before the day after her 
death,” returned the astrologer, “ and by that time, 
if all goes well, we shall be far beyond his reach. 


Angel Hilda. 


114 

Go you now, and keep the people up to the mark, 
while I make ready all things for our departure.” 

He placed as much of the gold as was possible 
in the belt which he wore, and then disposed of a 
good deal more in various other places upon his 
person. The residue he left to be carried by his 
servant ; and then busied himself in packing up his 
few effects, burning papers, and other things which 
he did not wish to burden himself with, and when 
night came, lay down with the pleased reflection 
that it was his last night in Breslau. 

Meanwhile, his trusty servant had exerted him- 
self among the people to such good purpose, 
that before night, an immense platform for the 
dancers, with a space railed off for the musicians, 
stood in the market-place. As the sound of the 
hammers mingled with many a lively tune, 
reached the people of Breslau — of whom, after all, 
the rioters formed but a very small part — in their 
homes, they shuddered, and the more pious 
breathed a prayer to God, not to visit in His 
wrath, the afflicted city still more heavily. Espe- 


The Astrologer's Cure for the Plague. 1 15 

dally to the patient watchers beside the beds of 
the sick and dying, had the untimely mirth a 
ghastly sound. 

Meanwhile, at the other end of the square, 
another smaller, but much higher platform was 
building. This was the pile on which Elspeth 
was to die. By night, the two were finished, and 
stood fronting each other, emblems of widely 
opposite things. Gradually, the crowd which had 
surged about them since early morning, urging 
on the workmen, retired, and the great square was 
once more silent and deserted. 

But the first flush of dawn had barely tinged 
the eastern sky, when the people began to pour 
into it again, for this was the place where the pro- 
cession was to organize and march through the 
city ; returning to the market-place by noon to 
behold the witch die, and then celebrate the fes- 
tival which was not to end till midnight. Myr- 
iads of colored lanterns had been hung around 
the platform in anticipation of this. As the 
crowds arrived, they formed in procession, and 


ii6 


Angel Hilda. 


presently set out to the sound of musie. It was 
a strange sight, that long line of fantastie shapes, 
moving through the deserted streets. First, eame 
four and twenty coffins, followed by a band of 
mourners, clothed in trailing sable garments. 
Next, in horrible contrast to these, came a band 
of mounted harlequins in parti-colored raiment, 
each with cap and bells, belt and scabbard, and 
brandishing wooden swords, which they fre- 
quently employed in rapping smartly the mourn- 
ers ahead, to the audibly expressed horror of 
the few spectators. Behind this brave company 
walked a crowd of men singing popular folk- 
songs in hoarse voices, and accompanying them- 
selves upon lyres sadly out of tune. These were 
followed by a hideous figure made to represent the 
plague. Then came the body of the procession, 
which was composed, as we have said, of the scum 
of the city, with a small number from the upper 
classes, mostly young men, who had either been 
released from parental authority by the plague, or 
had evaded it on this occasion. Every kind of cos- 


The Astrologer's Cure for the Plague. iiy 

tume was represented among them ; and those, to 
whom ideas or means were lacking, had added 
some bits of finery to their usual dress. One small, 
stout man had chosen to represent Bacchus, and 
rode along in an open wagon astride of a beer-vat, 
from whose open cock the beer ran plentifully 
into the numerous cans that were held beneath. 
And the generous brown stream, as may be im- 
agined, added wonderfully to the general hilarity 
of the motley crew. 

After he had seen the procession fairly started, 
the astrologer rode up to take his place at its 
head. But it had not moved very far, when 
Father Peter appeared, advancing towards it. 

His face looked stern and majestic, and his sil- 
very hair flowing upon his shoulders, made him 
look like Wisdom coming to reprove Folly. 

The astrologer, not in the least daunted, appar- 
ently, though in truth the vision was a most un- 
welcome one, rode easily up to him, and would 
have cantered by, were it not that the priest 
planted himself directly in his path. 


Ii8 


Angel Hilda. 


“ Impious man,” said Father Peter, with all the 
strength of a righteous wrath ; “ I command you 
in the name of God, whose unworthy servant I 
am, to disband this procession ; and I order you, 
unhappy people, to return to your homes.” 

“ Reverend Father,” answered the astrologer, 
with a wily smile, “ you credit me with too much 
power. The procession is none of my work. 
The good people of Breslau have merely chosen 
me to head it. It is true, I made the suggestion 
that it would be well for them to try and fight the 
plague with a little lively amusement, and so the 
feast of to-day was planned. It is called the Fes- 
tival of the Burial of the Plague, as you may see,” 
pointing to a banner borne by a sturdy fellow, on 
which those words were inscribed in white letters 
on a black ground. 

“ Y es, and of the Burial of the Witch ought to 
be on there too,” cried a huge fellow ; who, with- 
out washing the soot from his face, had attired 
himself as a mountebank. “We can bury the 
two together.” 


The Astrologer's Cure for the Plague. 119 

“ Amusement is good in itself, and good in its 
effects,” replied Father Peter, still regarding the 
astrologer sternly. “ But it must be innocent 
amusement, and not riot and license like this. 
Such a scene as this is sure to excite God’s wrath 
instead of His mercy, of which our poor city 
stands so much in need.” 

“ You are very powerful, priest,” hissed the as- 
trologer, bending from his horse towards Father 
Peter, “ but you will be baffled here. You can no 
more make these people turn back and give up 
their purpose, than you can make a torrent ascend 
the mountain down which it is rushing.” 

The look of fiendish hatred which appeared 
upon his face as he uttered these words, made 
Father Peter fairly start. But the next instant he 
had recovered himself, and in a loud voice be- 
sought the people to disband and give up the idea 
of the unhallowed festival. 

“It is blasphemy,” he urged, “ thus to mock 
God, and His solemn visitations. Death is too 
awful a thing to be thus turned into ridicule. 


120 


Angel Hilda. 


How know you that to-morrow you may be 
among the living ? I entreat, I command you to 
forbear. If you turn a deaf ear to my words, I 
warn you to beware lest the vengeance of God 
descend upon you.” 

The throng hesitated, swayed in contrary direc- 
tions by their hopes and by their fears. 

But the astrologer was determined not to yield 
so easily. 

“ My good friends,” he cried in a stentorian voice, 
“ the hours are speeding by, and by this time we 
should be half-way through the city. Is it your 
good pleasure that I lead you on, or turn back ? 
It is for you to decide. I am at your service.” 

“ Lead us on,” cried the voice of the astrol- 
oger’s servant, who was busy doing his master’s 
work in the rear. And the mob, who had already 
quaffed deep draughts . of beer, took up the cry 
and repeated it with all the strength of their lungs, 
so that it reached even the cell in which Elspeth’s 
last hours were passing, and made her think that 
they were too impatient for her to die, to even 


The Astrologer s Cure for the Plague. 12 1 

wait until the fire should do its work, and were 
coming to tear her to pieces. 

Their cry decided it. Father Peter saw that it 
was alike useless to implore, rebuke, or warn, and 
with a sad face stepped back, as the astrologer, 
with a parting glance of triumph, set spurs to his 
horse, and rode away through the narrow street, 
followed by his crew, among whom the devil, at- 
tired in scarlet and black, and chained to an open 
chariot, excited the wildest merriment by his 
grimaces. 

If they had counted upon spectators, the rabble 
must have been sadly disappointed. Every street 
through which they passed was empty ; and not 
a face was seen at the windows. This excited the 
ire of the mob ; and were it not that the spectacle 
of the burning of the witch was awaiting them, it 
might have fared ill with some of these dwellings 
and their inhabitants. But the servant of the 
astrologer kept the great event before their minds, 
and represented to them that it would be better 
to wait till evening, anyhow, before attempting 


122 


Angel Hilda. 


anything of the kind, although he hinted that 
these people would be none the worse for a les- 
son to their pride, and false piety. 

They wound slowly through the entire city, 
and, about eleven o’clock, neared the market-place 
once more. When they were within about a hun- 
dred yards of it, the procession came to a stand- 
still, and one of the three and twenty harlequins 
who rode behind the coffins, sprang from his steed, 
and with many a jest besought the dead to rise, 
and mingle in the festival. Again and again he 
repeated it without obtaining an answer, but, 
finally, from within the coffin came the faint 
sound of a drum, which gradually grew louder 
and louder, until at length the lid of the coffin 
was flung aside, and a musician, dressed in gay 
garments, sprang out, and grasping the arm of the 
harlequin, skipped oflf to the platform, and took 
his place in the orchestra. From the next coffin 
came the faint sound of a violin ; and then its oc- 
cupant appeared, and taking the arm of the second 
harlequin, bounded off to take his place alongside 


The Astrologer' s Cure for the Plague. 123 

of his companion. And so it went on, until three 
and twenty of the coffins were empty, and the 
orchestra assembled, and then the latter began to 
play a dead march, to the sound of which the re- 
maining coffin was borne upon the platform, and 
placed in the centre of it. Then the lid was re- 
moved, and it was found to be empty. The pro- 
cession now advanced, and when the horrible 
figure of the plague arrived before the platform, it 
was taken down from its sorry steed, and placed 
within the coffin, and the lid fastened down se- 
curely. 

“ But it must be buried,” cried several voices, 
and then the entire crew took up. the cry, “ Yes, it 
must be buried. It must go six feet under the 
ground.” 

Just at this juncture, it was Balthasar Kraft’s ill 
fortune to cross the market-place on his way to 
the graveyard, and the instant that the mob 
caught sight of him, they decided that he should 
perform his office in behalf of the plague. 

A few moments later, as he was digging busily, 


124 


Angel Hilda. 


he heard loud shouts of laughter close upon him, 
almost drowning the sound of slow music. He 
looked up and beheld a crowd of men bearing a 
coffin, and followed by the mob, all trying to press 
within the graveyard. 

“ Here, grave-digger,” cried one, with a loud 
laugh ; “ cease your efforts on those whom the 
plague has slain, and bury the plague itself. That 
will be much better.” 

“Yes, much better,” echoed the crowd, while 
honest Balthasar stood staring as if he could not 
believe his senses. “ Yes, my good friend,” cried 
the astrologer, who had by this time reached the 
scene ; “ perform your office, as these good people 
command you, and you shall be paid well for your 
trouble.” 

“ Is it a dead person you bring to bury — like 
this?” asked honest Balthasar, with his round 
eyes fixed on the laughing, gaudily attired 
crew. 

“No, clown, but the cause of so many dead 
persons,” answered the astrologer’s servant. “ It 


The Astrologer' s Cure for the Plague. 125 

is the Festival of the Burial of the Plague, that vve 
are celebrating to-day.” 

“ I will have nought to do with it,” cried Bal- 
thasar, whose fear of the mob was swallowed up in 
his fear of offending God. And he thrust his 
spade in the earth, and folding his arms across his 
chest, eyed the crowd resolutely. 

“ And why not, fool 1 ” asked the astrologer con- 
temptuously. 

“ Because I know it is not right to do such a 
thing. This is no time for masques and mummer- 
ies, when not one of us knows if to-morrow’s sun 
will find him living. It is a time for prayer and 
fasting.” 

“ Away, then, fool ! and fast and pray to your 
heart’s content,” cried the astrologer ; “ but seek not 
to preach to people who are of a different mind. 
Meanwhile, we will make bold to borrow your 
tools for a brief space.” And so saying, he seized 
the grave-digger’s spade, and set to work ; an ex- 
ample which was immediately followed by a score 
of others.- 


126’ 


Angel Hilda. 


Balthasar saw that it was useless to resist, and 
therefore did not attempt to do so, but made the 
best of his way out of the graveyard, and home. 

Meanwhile, the mob proceeded with their work, 
and presently the coffin was interred, and the 
grave stamped upon by countless feet, while a 
song of triumph was sung. 

When this ceremony was concluded, they re- 
turned to the platform in the square, and the fes- 
tival began in earnest. 

The orchestra began to play, and the sound of 
the bass-viol, the lively strains of the flute, the 
sweet music of the violin, and the blast of the 
horns mingled in the tune of a merry dance. It 
was many a day since the like festive strains had 
been heard in the unhappy city, and, for a mo- 
ment, the people seemed awed by the contrast, 
and stood motionless. But the astrologer ad- 
vanced, and gave his hand to a pretty, giddy 
young girl, who had been left an orphan by the 
plague, and had thoughtlessly yielded to the ur- 
gings of her companions, and joined the so-called 


The Astrologer' s Cure for the Plague. 127 

merry-makers. For a moment she had thought 
of quitting the strange weird scene, and hurrying 
to the empty church to ask pardon of God for 
having taken part therein ; but as she paused, irres- 
olute, the astrologer, who perhaps had observed 
her hesitation, and was determined none should 
'escape from the scene, approached and requested 
her to open the dance with him. V anity was the 
poor young creature’s ruling passion, and the honor 
of being selected to open the festival seemed too 
great a one for her to forego. She decided at all 
hazards to remain, and with a smile and courtesy 
placed her hand in his, and took her place. 

This broke the spell, and couple after couple 
took their places likewise, and presently the dance 
was proceeding merrily. But the dancers failed 
to notice that the sunshine had faded out of the 
sky, and that heavy, gray clouds were sweeping up 
the horizon. 

The dance grew wilder and faster, and the 
mirth of the dancers louder ; but there was some- 
thing feverish in the mirth, and something weird 


128 


Angel Hilda. 


about the dance. Even the dread event which 
they were soon to witness was forgotten ; and the 
morning wore away, and the hands of the great 
clock in the tower of St. Christopher’s marked a 
quarter to noon, unheeded by the surging, motley 
crowd below. 

But presently, across the plaintive strains of the 
violins, and the sweet, piercing music of the flutes, 
rolled the heavy sound of the great bell of St. 
Christopher’s, which announced that the con- 
demned was leaving the prison. It was the first 
time in many months that its voice had been heard, 
for the bell-ringer had been one of the first victims 
of the plague, and there had been found no one to 
take his place. Involuntarily, the dancers stood 
still, and the musicians held their hands. Then, 
for the first time, they observed that the heavens 
were black, and seemed to look down upon them 
with wrath. Presently a loud clap of thunder, 
which seemed directly above their heads, changed 
the glowing faces of the dancers to the hue of 
terror. They drew near one another, as if for 


The Astrologer' s Cure for the Plague. 129 

protection, and some crossed themselves. The 
astrologer, alone, seemed utterly unmoved, and 
urged them to greet the witch, on her arrival at 
the scaffold, with a merry mocking song, as they 
had planned to do. But for once, his eloquence 
proved useless ; the frowning sky, and the awful 
sound of the tolling bell were more potent than he, 
and enforced a death-like silence, in the midst of 
which Elspeth came into sight, bound upon a 
hurdle. Her hair had been shorn, and her head 
was surmounted by the fantastic cap which the 
executioner had worn in the torture-chamber. 

Slowly the hurdle advanced, and presently the 
condemned saw the huge pile on which she was 
to suffer her cruel death. But she did not seem 
to take any notice of it. Her lips were moving 
in prayer, and her eyes were upturned to the 
black heavens, which seemed to frown upon the 
wicked deed which men were about to commit. 

But when she was but a few yards distant from 
the scaffold, a murmur of awe ran through the 
crowd, and many sank on their knees. For sud- 


130 


Angel Hilda. 


denly, from the opposite entrance into the square, 
came the long, silvery blast of a trumpet, and im- 
mediately after, appeared a startling vision — a 
knight, clothed from head to foot in snow-white 
armor, and with thick, golden hair floating loose 
upon his shoulders, mounted on a huge, snow- 
white steed, with silver trappings. With one hand 
he held the trumpet to his lips ; the other raised a 
large silver crucifix. Onward through the hush, 
that was broken only by the tolling of the heavy 
bell, he rode, and reaching the scaffold just as 
Elspeth’s bands had been loosed, stooped and 
lifted her upon his steed. The executioner stood 
motionless, but the astrologer, who believed in 
neither God nor angel, cried out : “ Help, my 
friends; it is a last trick of the witch to es- 
cape.” 

And he rushed forward, followed by his servant. 
For a moment, a wild panic ensued. Some of the 
merry-makers, who believed that the end of the 
world was come, and that God was about to judge 
their souls, tried to tear off the gay rags of their 


The Astrologer's Cure for the Plague. 131 

merry-making. Others fell on their knees, and 
beat their breasts, while a few rushed forward to 
recapture the witch. An instant later, a terrific 
flash of lightning lent a dazzling radiance to the 
scene ; and the figure of the white-clad knight, on 
his snowy steed, seemed to shine with celestial 
brightness, as the astrologer rushed forward to 
seize the bridle, and the noble brute rose on his 
hind feet. A second, and still brighter flash re- 
vealed them in this position, as if they were drawn 
against the blackness beyond, and then a terrific 
peal of thunder was heard, followed by a crash so 
terrific, that involuntarily the terrified throng hid 
their faces in their hands. Some instants of death- 
like stillness followed, before they ventured to 
look up once more ; and when they did, horse and 
rider, and Elspeth had disappeared, the astrol- 
oger and his servant both lay dead, killed by the 
same stroke of lightning, and the tower of St. 
Christopher’s had vanished. 

Horror seized upon the throng, and they fled 
to their homes in silence through the furious 


132 


Angel Hilda, 


Storm, Father Peter, who had all this time re- 
mained motionless on the scaffold, descended, and 
with the help of Balthasar, removed the bodies to 
Father Peter’s house. As Elspeth had told him 
of her master’s gold, he had a shrewd suspicion 
that the astrologer might entertain the idea of 
carrying it out of the city on his person. He, 
accordingly, examined the corpses, and was re- 
warded by finding both laden with the yellow 
coin for whose possession they had planned and 
worked so hard. 

“ Accursed love of gold,” mused Father Peter, 
sadly ; “ that could prompt human beings to hunt 
another of their kind to death ! ” 

“ Do you think they are safe. Father ? ” in- 
quired Balthasar, as he stood at the window watch- 
ing the furious rain-gusts, driven hither and thither 
by the strong wind. 

“ I have no doubt of it,” returned the priest. 
“ God will protect them. Hilda is a good, noble 
child!” 

“ And God is great,” said Balthasar, reverently. 


The Astrologer's Cure for the Plague. 133 

“If He had not sent the storm, she would never 
have been able to do what she did.” 

“ Aye,” returned the priest, “ her confidence 
in Him was great, and it was rewarded.” And 
then silence fell between them. For some hours 
still, the storm raged. The wind tore down the 
gayly-colored lanterns, which were to have lit so 
different a scene, and swept fragments of flags 
and banners before it, as it rushed through the 
narrow streets. But, just before its setting, the 
sun became once more visible, the wind lulled, 
and the terrified people began to gather to dis- 
cuss the wonderful events of the day. 

“ She was innocent,” they cried, “ and it was 
St. Christopher whom God sent to save her.” 
And from that hour forth, such was the belief 
held by the people of Breslau. But never again 
was Elspeth’s face seen in the quaint old city by 
the Oder ; though, far off, in a conventual house 
at Prague, a gray-haired woman dwelt for many 
years after, whose life was passed in continual 
prayer, and the nuns called her Elspeth. 


CHAPTER IX. 


CONCLUSION. 

F rom that day, the ravages of the plague 
grew less and less in Breslau, and finally, 
three months later, its last trace had disappeared. 

Diligent inquiry on the part of Father Peter 
had elicited the fact that the sister of the dead 
brewer, Anthony Dorn, was* dead, and had left no 
children. Not a single relation having been found 
to claim the gold. Father Peter submitted the case 
to the learned magistrates, who, in their hearts, 
felt thoroughly ashamed of the way in which a 
wicked man like the astrologer had succeeded in 
hoodwinking an entire city, and themselves, even 
more than the other inhabitants. Justice was 
done to Elspeth’s memory ; and it was decided 
that, as Hilda Kraft had proven herself the poor 
woman’s protectress, and had succored the sick of 


Conclusion. 


135 


Breslau, she should be publicly presented with the 
gold, in order to carry out her cherished wish of 
founding an hospital. A day was chosen for the 
important event, and it dawned bright and beau- 
tiful, and the streets were filled at an early hour 
with the entire population of Breslau. A plat- 
form had been erected on which the magistrates 
were to be seated ; and opposite were places pro- 
vided for all those who had taken part in the 
great work of mercy. 

But to Hilda the place of honor was accorded, 
for it was her noble heart that had originated the 
idea, and she had done by far the largest share of 
the work. 

One of the magistrates made her a long address, 
in which he dwelt on the devotion, and spirit of 
self-sacrifice, which she had displayed during the 
recent terrible visitation, and thanked her, in 
the name of the city, for her great help in the 
hour of need. He then besought her to accept 
the gold which, up to this time, had been the oc- 
casion of nought but unhappiness, and expend it 


136 


Angel Hilda. 


in the erection of an hospital, which should be 
dedicated to her patron saint, St. Hilda. 

Tears of joy sprang to Hilda’s eyes as she ac- 
cepted the gift. During the past months, it had 
become her most cherished wish to see an hos- 
pital erected in her native city, and now this wish 
was about to be realized, and it had come to pass 
through her kindness to poor old Elspeth. Truly, 
she felt that God had rewarded one hundred-fold 
her effort to be helpful to her forsaken fellow- 
creature. The magistrates then thanked Magda- 
lene, and the other women of Breslau, who had 
assisted in the good work. When these digni- 
taries had finished, the maidens of Breslau ad- 
vanced and crowned Hilda with a beautiful wreath 
of white roses, which the Countess Emily had 
sent from her conservatories for that purpose, and 
which became “ Angel Hilda’s ” beauty well. 

Then the festival began, oh ! how different a one 
from the last ! Father Peter looked upon the merrj'’ 
groups with a kindly smile, and the day went by 
without a single shadow upon its brightness. 


Conclusion. 


137 


A few days after, Hilda laid the corner-stone of 
St. Hilda’s Hospital, upon the site of the brewer’s 
burned house. It progressed rapidly, and by the 
following year Hilda was comfortably installed 
within its walls ; and here she passed from youth 
to middle age, and from middle age to old age, 
doing good to her fellow-beings. 

And when at length she passed away, full of 
years and good works, the Sisters of Charity, that 
noble order, which had just been founded by St. 
Vincent de Paul, took her place. 

As for Magdalene, she lived to survive Bal- 
thasar, though he lived to a good old age, and to 
see Caspar, by that time the father of numerous 
rosy-cheeked children, succeed his father as grave- 
digger. 

In time, the tower of St. Christopher’s was 
rebuilt, but the wonderful story connected with 
its fall was never forgotten, but descended from 
generation to generation, so that even little chil- 
dren on their way to school would stare at the 
spot to which St. Christopher had once ridden on 


138 


Angel Hilda. 


his snow-white steed to save one who had been 
unjustly condemned to death. 

Hilda never married, that she might the better 
and more fully consecrate her life to her chosen 
work ; but all the children of Breslau loved her as 
well as if she had been their mother, and there 
dwelt not a man or woman worthy the name, 
within its walls, that would not have died to serve 
the woman who, as well when her hair was gray 
as when it had been golden, bore the name of 
“ Angel Hilda.” 




I 








